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The Mayor said: ‘I have worked very hard with the police, Transport for London and other authorities over the last year on getting the safer travel at night message across. It looks like there has been a reduction, which shows that if we increase safe choices for women they will use them, but we should not be complacent.
‘It’s still vital that we rid London of illegal taxi touts to eradicate this threat to Londoners’ safety and keep improving late night travel, including increased bus services.’
The Safer Travel at Night policy is now entering its second year, with a raft of new initiatives and campaigns to carry the message forward. The Mayor was joined at the conference by Commander John Yates of the Metropolitan Police Service who stressed the need for extra care among people out late at night during the Christmas party season.
He said: ‘We want people to enjoy themselves but think carefully about how they get home beforehand – not at the end of the night: either pre-book a taxi you know and trust, use a licensed cab or nominate a driver who doesn’t drink for the night. Don’t put yourself at unnecessary risk by catching bogus cabs.
‘Over the past year the Met has been working at all levels to crack down on illegal cabs. The Transport Operational Command Unit has made over 500 arrests and the Clubs and Vice unit have visited over 200 clubs in Westminster to explain how they can help customers get home safely.
‘We have been working closely with the Government to make touting a recordable offence and I’m pleased that they have now taken on board our advice. This means we can be even more effective in identifying and catching criminals who work under the guise of an illegal cab driver – putting the fear of crime back onto the criminals.’
The City of London Police also stressed the need for greater safety awareness over the Christmas holidays. Assistant Commissioner Mike Bowron said: ‘As a measure of our determination to crack down on illegal taxi touts, we have incorporated the issue into our Christmas campaign this year.
‘Customers at licensed premises in the City won’t be able to miss our posters and flyers asking them ‘who’s taking you home tonight?’ We are urging those out celebrating this holiday season to plan their journey home before the party starts.
‘Operations targeting illegal minicab drivers are ongoing in the City, using plain-clothed and uniformed officers. While helping to reduce the number of assaults by taxi touts, many of our operations have highlighted and addressed the roadworthiness of the vehicles they use, which ultimately adds to the safety of the travelling public.’
Labour Assembly member Jennette Arnold, who spoke at the conference, said: ‘The Safer Travel at Night project is one of the most important achievements of the Greater London Authority's first term and I am delighted that it has been extended to include partnership work with unions and employers. After all, it’s not just the party-goers who need to get home safely – we also need to think about the bar staff, the cleaners, the nurses on the night shift and all the other workers who keep our 24-hour city running.’
Transport for London Managing Director of Surface Transport Peter Hendy said: ‘Londoners deserve safer and more reliable night-time travel options. A combination of extra night buses and minicabs is ensuring that we are making great strides in achieving this.’
One major boost to the Safer Travel at night message will be a TV ad, based on the successful Know What You’re Getting Into cinema ad, reaching London’s television screens this Christmas. Since the Mayor launched Safer Travel at Night a year ago, a series of achievements and developments have boosted the campaign:
· The cab enforcement section of the Transport Operational Command Unit (TOCU), set up jointly by the Mayor, the Metropolitan Police and Transport for London, is currently in the process of expanding to treble its size since June 2002 and has made more than 650 arrests. It now carries out nightly operations, clamping down on illegal minicab touts around the capital.
· Londoners have more night bus services than ever before. 28 new routes have been introduced in the last two years and passenger numbers were up by 16 per cent in 2002/03. As announced by the Mayor in September 2003, TOCU will be expanding its operations to cover night buses.
· CCTV is now on 2,600 buses and will be installed in the rest of the fleet in 2005
· TfL’s Public Carriage Office has now licensed more than 2,300 minicab operators and drivers are currently being licensed as part of the second stage of a major overhaul of the industry. Vehicle licensing will begin next year.
· An operation in the West End to tackle touts through October netted 100 arrests.
· A major, on-going poster campaign – ‘Know what you’re getting into’ – was accompanied by a cinema ad directed by Mike Leigh. The posters appeared on public transport, in pubs, clubs, theatres and workplaces.
· Local safety initiatives include a safe college transport scheme at Goldsmith’s College where students can use a hotlink phone connecting them directly to local minicab operators. The University of London is working with Transport for London to extend the scheme.
· Transport for London has just issued a best practice guide for late night venues, aimed at making their staff aware of safe travel options late at night.
And a number of initiatives are about to come on stream:
· The Docklands Light Railway is currently testing its new one-number scheme, which will link passengers to more than 100 minicab firms throughout London. The scheme allows passengers to pre-book minicabs so that they can be met at their DLR station destination.
· Imminent legal changes are set to make touting a recordable offence. |
