by Thomas the Taxi
Last Monday night, the whole Taxi trade watched in amazement as the Metropolitan Police turned up in the Haymarket with a highly visible transit van full of CCTV surveillance equipment.
Two uniformed officers stood outside Tiger Tiger and asked customers to fill in a quick survey as they left the premises.I did try to get a look at one of the forms myself, but had to leave straight away as the other policeman put a job in my cab.
It seemed to do the trick as very few touts pulled up on the Licensed Taxi rank and the ones that did, were moved on by the officers.
I made a point of returning time and time again, but as soon as I pulled up outside the venue, I seemed to be off again with another set of passengers.
I did however manage to ascertain from the passengers, that the form was about being touted by private hire drivers (minicabs) inside or outside on the pavement.
As the Police had already moved on the touts from outside the venue, I fear the result of this survey might give the wrong impression .
The mood on twitter that night was quite apprehensive, as this type of activity has been seen before in this vicinity. I got the general feeling from other drivers, that this was just another knee jerk reaction, in light of the demonstration planned for the following Wednesday.
Our fears and beliefs were not wrong as the next day and for the rest of the week, Tiger Tiger reverted back to no more than a massive private hire rank where touts and sexual predators lined up, side by side.
Safer Travel at Night (STaN) I don't think so.
Video taken on Thursday night.
The confusion at this venue, is caused by the fact the night time licensed taxi rank is not marked out clearly. Private hire drivers are unaware of their contravention and the sight of Westminster's traffic wardens walking past the illegally parked touts, doesn't help the matter.
So these touts and predators are parked on a bus stand, in a 24 hour bus lane, underneath a CCTV camera belonging to Westminster City Council that never seems to be working.
Someone is not doing the job properly;
Messrs Low and Goad!
If you are not willing to be part of the solution gentlemen, then you are part of the problem that last year contributed to a 54% rise in serious sexual assaults and rapes, with a 50% decline in detection and conviction in the same year.
Funny though, just around the corner in Charing Cross Road, licensed taxis are receiving more than their fair share of PCN's for taking longer than 2 minutes to pick up or drop off passengers, at the corner of Bear Street on double yellow lines.
How come that this camera is so efficient and yet the one outside Tiger Tiger is so totally useless?
So where have the joint ranks committee been since this rank was set up over a year ago and
why haven't they sorted this problem out in their regular, meaningful meetings with TfL?
The floor is all yours Dickie...
Anyway, lets end on a high note just seen this article and its put a smile back on my face.
MONTREAL — Doormen at one of the most luxurious hotels in Montreal have been arrested as part of an extortion conspiracy investigation.
Montreal police arrested six doormen who work at the Queen Elizabeth hotel, saying they have been pressuring taxi drivers to pay them for customers.
Scene: Tout Squad Office, Kings X. Road.
ReplyDeleteSgt: 'We need a quick hit at Tiger Tiger as the Taxi Drivers are getting restless!'
PC's (groan!): 'Not another night out, it's really busy there on Friday & Saturday Night'
Sgt: 'No lads, It's a Monday on overtime, nice and quiet and I can tell the guvnors we are on the case'
PC's: 'In that case we are ready to serve the public Sarge, sign us up'
Sgt.(now misty eyed): 'You boys make me proud,'
Funny thing that!
ReplyDeleteThe Policeman can put a job in your cab outside the front door of the club, yet TfL's marshals, have to stand on the corner of Panton Street where they are told not to move from, by John Mason.
I know you have to start somewhere jim but lets not forget this is just one place.
ReplyDeleteRegent and Swallow, Heddon, Great Malborough, Charing X Road, The Strand, Barkley Sqr, every Hotel and restaurant...The list is bloody endless
And thats just the west end, don't get me started on the City, Fulham, Putney or Kensington.
Still knocking yourself out about a problem you will never solve on your own. The reason why this keeps running is NO ONE GIVES A F**K about Tiger Tiger. They are too busy looking for jobs to the brothel in Euston that the Badge advertises. Can't blame the leaders of the LTDA for not helping, they are all in bed. Even Kennedy gives the place a wide birth. Only ones I've seen their is Peter Rose, Mark White, the Pope and you Thomas. Not enough to make a difference
ReplyDeleteLondon — Doormen at one of the most luxurious hotels in London have been arrested as part of an extortion conspiracy investigation.
ReplyDeleteLondon police arrested six doormen who work at the Park Plaza hotel, saying they have been pressuring taxi drivers to pay them for customers.
The doormen, who frequently call taxis on behalf of hotel customers, are accused of demanding payments of anywhere from £5 to £30 from taxi driver depending on the distance they will be travelling.
Drivers who refused to pay up saw customers directed to other taxis.
"If the taxi driver refused then the doorman would contact another driver who he knew would pay, who would drive and go right in front of the doors and then the baggage would be loaded up and off they would go," said Commander Marc St-Cyr of London Police.
Police say multiple taxi drivers had made complaints about the extortion plot over the past few years, first to the hotel and the T&PH, and only coming to police within the past year.
Many drivers say the same situation happens at every large hotel in London, but they have not filed any complaints with police.
The six doormen are charged with extortion, intimidation and conspiracy.
http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/....ub=MontrealHome
Simco
Bit confused here,we have a Police Force,that are forever telling us they are to understaffed to act on touts,Yet seem to have officers spare to hand out forms???.
ReplyDeleteSecondly if every form said they were touted outside the premises,how would anyone know,as they can simply make the result what they want it to be,It seems every other survey is done by an independent source,so why not this one,
Anyone else smell a rat