BASINGSTOKE council and the borough’s Hackney Carriage Federation have joined forced in a bid to stop party-goers getting lifts from unlicensed drivers.
Last week, the council’s licensing team and cab drivers visited parts of the borough to spread the message as part of their Who’s Taking You Home? campaign.
The move has been prompted by reports of bogus cab drivers operating in London and other local authority areas. To date, there have been no reports of bogus cab drivers in Basingstoke.
On Wednesday last week, the campaign roadshow visited youngsters at Basingstoke College of Technology and Queen Mary’s College.
Shows are also being held at Festival Place, Milestones Museum and at supermarkets across the borough this month.
Chairman of the borough’s licensing committee Cllr Diane Taylor said: “Young people in particular often seem to be unaware of the importance of pre-booking only a properly licensed private hire car.
“Failing to do this puts them at the prey of bogus drivers, who could pick them up on the street illegally, will not be insured to carry paying passengers and may have criminal motives.
“Do not be tempted get into any vehicle that is waiting outside a pub or club unless you have checked that it is the vehicle you have already booked. Never get into a vehicle that has no council identification as it will not be licensed.”
The borough council licenses two style of cabs – Hackney Carriages and private hire vehicles.
In Basingstoke, there are 61 London-style black cabs operating from six taxi ranks, in Festival Place, Caston’s Yard, Joices Yard, Church Street, the railway station and at Tesco’s in Chineham.
And there are private hire vehicles licensed by the borough council displaying ‘no booking bo ride’ stickers on their doors, and their carriage licence next to their number plates. Cars without these are not officially sanctioned.
Cllr Taylor said: “The message we want to get across to as many people as possible this festive season is the importance of always taking a licensed taxi from a rank or booking a private hire pick-up in advance, so you know who is driving you home.”
For more information, visit www,basingstoke.gov.uk for more information.
