Clamping down on rogue Taxis and Minicabs
The Newcastle City Council is clamping down on rogue vehicles picking up people at night in the City Centre posing as taxi and mini cab drivers.
Northumbria Police identified "vehicles of concern" in the city centre as part of an operation to prevent people from becoming victims of sexual violence.
The Labour administration wants Newcastle to be a city where everyone can travel without worries, women are safe and are treated with respect.
To combat the issue of unlicenced vehicles the Council is providing all official licenced taxis with white vinal stickers for their bonnets. They will also have red city crests on the doors and taxi roof signs.
Private hire vehicles that can be booked ahead but not flagged in the street will have green council plates and operator signs, so you know that they are safe. This new policy was designed to start in November.
Last year two women reported to me incidents where they were lucky to escape serious harm from rogue drivers. I am glad that the administration took this problem seriously and we have taken action.
The council official press release is here:
https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/citylife-news/black-and-white-taxi-plans-approved
and the related council document is here: