A covert operation earlier this month by officers of the unit, which is part of the Transport for London (TfL) funded Safer Transport Command (STC), targeted known touting hotspots including the Haymarket area.
Chief Superintendent Joe Royle from the Safer Transport Command, said: “The safety of the public is paramount and I would advise everyone not to get into any vehicle that they have not booked and always book a cab through a reputable PCO licensed company.”
Private hire drivers are forbidden from touting for fares and only taxis (black cabs) are legally allowed to accept passengers on the street. All private hire vehicles (minicabs) should be booked by a licensed operator.
Police and TfL officials are warning licensed private hire drivers they face the loss of their Public Carriage Office driver’s licence if caught touting.
TfL’s Cabwise service allows anyone within London to text HOME to 60835 to get the numbers of one taxi and two licensed minicab firms, in the area they are texting from.
