Taxi clampdown

The blitz comes during the busiest time of year for drivers in the hope the public will shop anyone they consider driving badly, being rude or using unroadworthy vehicles.

But angry drivers today opposed the scheme, claiming it will lead to time wasting.

Blackburn with Darwen council bosses today said they would make promotion of the 'Don't be Taken for a Ride' scheme compulsory in taxis unless more firms sign up to the project.

More than 700 licensed cabbies in Blackburn and Darwen have been asked to display the 24-hour number which passengers can use to register complaints.

Council enforcement officers were patrolling the streets of Blackburn and Darwen last night as part of the campaign to improve the standard of taxis in the borough.

Jenette Hicks, Principal Environmental Health Officer at the council said: "Any complaints received will be investigated. If it is found that there has been a breach of licence conditions, the taxi driver could lose their licence and any criminal offence would also result in action by the police.

"This initiative has been introduced because of the need to raise public awareness. All taxi drivers are licensed by the council and as part of this responsibility we are keen to hear about both good and bad practice. "We are monitoring the uptake and the initial response from the taxi trade to this initiative has generally been disappointing. The council will be considering making these measures mandatory."

Councillor Jim Blackburn, chairman of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Licensing Committee, said: "Within the borough there are 700 drivers that are licensed to work in the private hire and hackney carriage trade.

"It is important to the traders and the council that the public receive a good standard of service and these new intiatives should improve the level of service and ensure the safety of the public and the taxi drivers."

Chairman of Blackburn with Darwen Private Hire Association Mohammed Nawaz Khan gave his support to the scheme and said his company M and M Taxis had nothing to hide.

He said: "It's generally a good idea as long as we don't get people ringing up with complaints for the sake of it and drivers aren't getting pulled up left right and centre."

Manager of M and M Taxis Zulfiquar Ali Chaudry added: "I've got no objections about the scheme on the whole but by showing these stickers we are leaving ourselves open to all kinds of abuse."

Driver Farooq Ahmed, of DMC Taxis, also said the scheme was a good idea.

But manager of Mill Hill taxi firm Duncan Shinks said he could foresee problems. He said: "A lot of drivers are against this. I think it will be a case of people phoning up and complaining all the time. I agree with genuine complaints but not when people ring up with silly ones."