Transport for London's (TfL) Safer Travel at Night initiative
The Safer Travel at Night initiative is a partnership between the Mayor, TfL, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the City of London Police (CoLP) who are working together to making travelling in the Capital safer at night. Efforts are focused on:
The initiative has been running since 2002 and since then a significant reduction in the number of cab-related sexual offences has been seen but there is more work to be done.
Therefore over the next two months the following activities will be taking place:
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A pan-London poster campaign warning of the dangers of unbooked minicabs and promoting TfL's Cabwise service which helps the public find and book licensed minicabs and taxis
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TV and cinema adverts also warning of the dangers of unbooked minicabs
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Safety information and advice for travelling in London at night will be distributed to clubs and pubs
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Promotional teams will be out at night advising the people on how to get home safely
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Targeted activity carried out by the Taxi and Private Hire Compliance and Enforcement night-time team
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Ongoing driver and vehicle compliance and enforcement activity in the daytime
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Enhanced covert and high-visibility joint TfL and police operations including Operation STAN which saw over 180 drivers arrested for touting and other cab-related offences in the first phase which took place in September 2011
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Financial investigation and confiscation of assets from those involved in touting or other illegal cab activity
Cab Enforcement officers in the MPS and CoLP
There are 68 dedicated cab enforcement police officers in the Metropolitan Police Safer Transport Cab Enforcement Unit (CEU) and the CoLP. These officers are supported by TfL funded Safer Transport Teams, specialist support teams and local police officers across London to maximise coverage.
The CEU has made almost 8,000 arrests for touting and other cab-related offences since it was set up in 2003. Officers are out on the streets all year round to deter, detect and disrupt illegal cab activity.
'One Strike and Out'
Since August 2008 a 'one strike and out' policy has been in operation and any licensed private hire driver convicted of or cautioned for touting will automatically have their TfL driver's licence revoked for a minimum of one year. As a result of this policy over 800 private hire driver licences have been revoked since 2008.
Publishing touts' names
From the New Year a list showing the name and licence number of drivers whose licence has been revoked as a result of a touting conviction will be published on the TfL website and the taxi and private hire Privacy Notice has been updated to cover the publication of this information. The publication of the name and licence number of drivers who have been convicted of touting and had their licence revoked is intended to deter licensed drivers from illegally touting, improve public safety and support TfL's Safer Travel at Night initiative.
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