Semtex take on the new ID Badges

The proactive ranks of the UCG saw through this expensive smokescreen ages ago !
Naturally there was an issue with a few yellow badge rogues going under the fence and working off patch, we know that.


But creating enough attention and causing a fight between our own was a very clever ruse by TFL, to give them time to recover. Instead of our trade amalgamating and using our combined strength as a negotiating tool, we were busy slagging each other off with gusto.


Meanwhile, behind the scenes at Palestra and City Hall, other much more relevant issues were being discussed.


Transport for London's revenue greed have created a monster that they simply cannot control. There is not one senior police officer in any of the forces of either Metropolitan, City or British Transport Police who could look me in the eye and say that in respect of enforcement control in London, they have their finger on the pulse.
BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T !


The situation is seriously out of control, and London's combined police forces are putting their hands together each and every morning, and thanking the Almighty that they have got away with another day !


The free for all toffee apple sales of TFL's mini cab roundel shop is in full swing.
I am not aware of how many mini cabs are currently licensed. I am not aware of how many illegal touts are currently blatantly working in London.


But I AM aware of how many officers make up the current enforcement team to deal with them, and take it from me, it is absolutely nowhere near enough.


Time and time and time again, I have banged on and on about the lack of enforcement in London regarding mini cabs, will eventually cause a National Security breach. I have even told Helen Chapman this on the phone !


One day, the run of good luck combined with the law of averages will eventually run out for TFL and the Police.


When it does, the broken chain of security to London, will be cordoned off by investigators, keen to find out just who let the situation get this bad.


I am not going to incriminate myself at this stage, forecasting who will be blamed for the heads, arms, legs and torsos being seperated from the rest of the bodies of Londoners going about their business.


But I am sure that I know who it will be, and I am sure that this horror will eventually happen.
I am also sure that the ongoing investigation will reveal that a driver of a TFL/PCO licensed mini cab will be at the bottom of it.


Mystic Meg ? No, of course not. Prior information ? No, of course not. Dramatic and over the top reaction ? No, of course not. Just plain common sense and former experience, that's all.


Creating green and yellow cardboard squares in the back of cabs may well be the answer to the TFL Enforcement Programme, but it certainly isn't mine, and going on this post, neither the UCG's !


As I type this on 7th January 2012, the current MI5 Security Threat Level is 'SUBSTANTIAL'.
There are over 70,000 mini cabs that TFL are aware of out there, and God knows how many mini cabs off radar are operating illegally.


The issuing of bits of green and yellow cardboard squares will be seen as a major thrust forward by the PCO by many. After all, the threat of the odd yellow badge working in town was a worry to us all.


Personally, I would have rather have seen how ever much these cardboard squares has cost us all, go towards a far better cause in my eyes...............BETTER ENFORCEMENT, MORE COMPLIANCE AND A SAFER LONDON !


Keep cutting the cardboard out TFL. Keep selling the roundels and keep selling the toffee apples.


Above all though, keep up your friendship with Lady Luck. She has been extremely good to you so far, and for all our sakes, I hope she continues to do so.


8829 Semtex