Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings we know what to expect from LTPH Cab enforcement....road blocks with badge and bill checks. Although John Mason, Head of LTPH has said there is no money for enforcement at night, we see the same officers (on overtime) at the same places every week.
Most drivers are not fazed, as if you are in possession of a current badge and bill and after a quick look round the vehicle, you can be on your way in a couple of minutes. Unfortunately the passengers who are paying a metered fare don't always see eye to eye with this tactic.
Most drivers would believe the PCO/LTPH are operating on a level playing ground by also targeting private hire drivers in these highly visible road blocks that we see in places such as Knightsbridge and Pall Mall. But you would be wrong.
There is another reason why the private hire stops are taking place. Using technology designed for use by anti terror operations, the police are acting as bailiffs for local councils who are having trouble collecting outstanding parking ticket penalty payments. One recent joint operation by the Met and an unnamed councils enforcement officers, managed to catch drivers with over 250 unpaid tickets.
Drivers are handed a bill by debt collectors and if they can't pay there and then by Credit Card, their vehicle is impounded. Information obtained by a FOI request has found that Westminster City Council has so far received £41,000 in unpaid fines.
Westminster Councilor Lee Rowley has tried to justify the use of the Met and Anti terrorist equipment by saying "“The tactics are used mainly to enforce fines for more serious offences, such as disabled badge fraud and illegal minicab driving. Law-abiding motorists have nothing to be concerned about.” Oh Yeh Lee, what about the money?
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said that use of its officers in such operations was not “inappropriate”. In that case can they start enforcing the law in the west end at night, with the touts?
Other London boroughs using the resources of the Met in this way, include Hackney and Barnet.
This of course points to a worrying conclusion. How come these Licensed Drivers ( Licensed by John Masons LTPH) are so hard to pursue by legal measures? Why are their current addresses different to that which appears on their ID badge and license?
In other words John, WTF is going on?
Several people have recently lodged FOI requests regarding the use of private Bailiffs and the Met to collect Council issued PCNs for Westminster. What next, you get pulled over by plod and then introduced to a rep from your Credit card company who insists you pay off your overdue bill?
ReplyDeleteDon`t think that this is far fetched as using private Bailiffs and Police to collect civil fines (not criminal fines) is the thin edge of the wedge!
Oh dear oh dear. The sound bites from WCC Councilors won`t work. Mr Rowley states that "The tactics are used mainly to enforce fines for more serious offences, such as disabled badge fraud and illegal minicab driving." The latter I can accept but disabled badge fraud? Oh Mr Rowley I know way too much for you to be able to make this a comfortable statement!
ReplyDeleteLet`s see how WCC respond to some FOI requests from a group of people that used to work on these "Operations". 2-5 grand an operation to fund "London`s finest" to assist in the collection of council revenue is interesting from the info that someone has sent me. Nice to know WCC have public interest at heart! Some interesting docs have been received that will make Mr Rowley lay awake at night!