The Corporation of London, with the City of London Police, are piloting a scheme to help people call a licensed mini-cab.
The Corporation of London, with the City of London Police, are piloting a scheme to help people call a licensed mini-cab from a street terminal so it is easier to get home safe at night. The Public Call Terminals made by Autocab of Australia are operated by London PBT?s based in the UK. The new Public Call Terminals, throughout the City, will operate from 6.30pm to 5am and are linked to a licensed private hire company. The trial will allow mini-cabs to pick up passengers waiting in the street. To call a mini-cab from one of the Public Call Terminals, a person must put œ1 in a terminal which will automatically contact the mini-cab firm with the location and issue a ticket bearing a unique reference number and number plate of the car to you. The minicab is then issued the reference number and should arrive within 15 minutes. The booking is then made via the licensed operation centre in accordance with regulations. The trial scheme has been approved by the Corporation of London’s Planning and Transportation Committee and has the backing of the City of London Police who will police the Public Call Terminals.
What they say
Graham Forbes, Chairman of the Corporation of London’s Planning and Transportation Committee, said: “There has been a shortage of black cabs in the evenings throughout the City for quite a few years now. We hope that this innovative new scheme will help to resolve the problem.” Det Insp Bernie Emslie of the City of London Police, said: “Over the past 10 years nightlife in the City has developed significantly through longer working hours and flourishing entertainment venues. More and more people are leaving the City late at night. This has helped to contribute to a growing illegal mini-cab problem within the Square Mile. The key elements to reducing illegal mini-cab activity is vigilant policing of taxi tout haunts, educating the public about the dangers of using illegal mini-cabs and providing safe alternatives for people to get home late at night. We are working closely with the Corporation to make travel at night safer in the Square Mile.” Visit www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
