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London's minicab death traps

by Phillip Nettleton

At least 1,000 illegal minicabs touting for business in the West End are feared to be "death traps" as police continue their purge on the trade in central London.

A seized mini cab is dumped at a Westminster council depot - but many more remain on the road

Tourists, theatregoers, clubbers and other customers put themselves in danger every time they use one of the unlicensed taxis.

More than 100 have been seized during London's biggest such operation - many fit only to be sold for £50 scrap. Of 110 seized in two weeks of Operation Victory:

•At least 20 will be crushed because of serious defects

•More than 50 had no tax

•10 had no registered keeper

•Two didn't even exist with DVLA at Swansea

•The steering on one was only 10 per cent efficient, making it almost impossible to manoeuvre

•17 drivers were arrested for offences ranging from carrying an offensive weapon - an iron bar - giving false details, driving with no insurance and touting for business

•One driver had no driving licence

•One driver had 137 parking tickets outstanding. Another had 112. Others had 30 to 40 tickets. Many drivers owe thousands of pounds in unpaid fines

•About 50 cars will be auctioned because of outstanding fines

•20 cars have been reclaimed by drivers who have paid fines. Metropolitan Police and Westminster council officials estimate about 5,000 illegal minicabs work central London. Nineteen sexual assaults have been carried out by bogus drivers in six months and many are thought to be involved in drug dealing and prostitution.

One enforcement agency worker told the Evening Standard: "Anybody who takes a ride in one of these cars faces a one in five chance of getting into a death trap - the situation really is that serious. Judging by these figures over 1,000 are not roadworthy and potentially lethal. Bald tyres, no brakes, steering columns on their last legs - many are no better than scrap. This operation has been a real eye opener and I don't think anybody thought we would find so many cars in such neglect.

"If you are getting into a car that is not registered on any computer in Britain and a crime is committed against you, it makes the police's job very hard to trace the vehicle."

After 10pm - due to thousands leaving theatres and fewer black cabs on the road - it becomes more difficult to get a legitimate taxi. Last Thursday evening over 70 Met officers, traffic police and Westminster council bailiffs seized 57 cars. Drivers have since filtered back to the pound in east London to reclaim their vehicles. Some have even brought new tyres to make their vehicle road-worthy. Operation Victory is due to last eight weeks.

Under new guidelines 50,000 legal minicab operators face police checks before drivers themselves are scrutinised by the Public Carriage Office - part of the Greater London Authority.