However, when demand outstrips supply, there will always be some people looking to make up the difference and when it comes to taxis; this is where taxi drivers operate illegally. A strong example of this has come from three men from Truro who were providing unlicensed taxis that were collecting passengers coming off of Falmouth Docks. Given that there was a steady stream of passengers alighting from cruise shops at these docks, it is easy to see why so many people were looking for taxis and it was easy to see why there was a demand for the service that was being provided.
The three men involved appeared at the Magistrates Court in Trout and all paled guilty to a variety of offences. As you would expect, their behavior and actions were in contravention of a number of acts including the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1978, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 Act and the Fraud Act of 2006.
Fines and costs were imposed on all three men
All three of the men were fined for their actions with the ringleader receiving a fine of £1,500 plus costs of £1,223. The other two men involved in the case were fined a total of £750 with costs of £1,148. The fraudulent activity came to light back in May of 2013 when the local licencing compliance officers were passed information that a private hire firm, which wasn't licensed, was picking up passengers at the docks. With these passengers, who had come from the cruise ships that had docked, paying a fee for the taxi service they received, this was in contravention of many rules and regulations, which gave the compliance officers scope to pursue the firm.Trading standards were involved
The licencing officers from Cornwall Council worked alongside Trading Standards and they managed to uncover evidence that the leader Michael Ian Inglefield was running the business of his home address and the other two men were operating as his drivers. The firm provided a number of services to passengers including tours of Cornwall and transfers to the airport. The vehicles used in the taxi service were also unlicensed and it transpires that a number of the vehicles had been hired through fraudulent means from local taxi firms.While there will be some people stating that there is no real harm from the service, especially if it helps people to receive a taxi in a shorter period of time, it is clearly a situation that cannot be allowed to continue. The licencing and regulation of taxi firms, cabs and drivers is crucial for many aspects, with passenger safety being a key aspect. There is also the fact that if the taxi industry was unlicensed, there are fears that there would be links to more serious crimes. Any industry that is predominantly cash based will inevitably find that there is an opportunity to launder money through it. The vast majority of taxi firms operate cleanly and fully above the law but there is no doubt that there will be one or two firms around the country that has links to certain criminal fraternities. This is why there is a need for taxi firms to be regulated and licenced as much as the drivers and cars themselves. When it comes to fraudulent activities, it may sometimes seem as there is no real harm but this cannot justify illegal or unlawful actions.
Andrew Reilly is a freelance writer with a focus on news stories and consumer interest articles. He has been writing professional for 8 years but has been writing for as long as he can care to remember. When Andrew isn't sat behind a laptop or researching a story, he will be found watching a gig or a game of football.
