Pedicabs

The number of pedicabs operating in the area has increased over the years.  We have listened to businesses' complaints about these cyclists blocking pavements, taking too many passengers and their lack of insurance.

Through the Civic Watch process, the West End & Chinatown Safer Neighbourhood Team and Westminster City Council investigated the issue.  The response was four operations, which resulted in a number of cyclists being arrested and their pedicabs seized.

Since October 2008 there has been over 400 actions taken against Pedicabs operating in the Heart of London area.

Enforcement operations tackling the way that pedicabs operate continue to take place.  In March 2010, 50 cyclists were prosecuted and had their cycles removed.  A further 107 cyclists were warned about their behaviour.

Many consider Pedicabs a danger to pedestrians, their passengers and other road users.  A Working Group has been set up including WCC, the SNT and pedicab operators as a way of managing their trade linked with enforcement against those operating against the law.

 

Private Hire Enforcement

Private Hire Enforcement targets the illegal use of minicabs and taxis driving through or working from the area.  The West End & Chinatown Safer Neighbourhood Team, Westminster City Council, Transport for London and bailiffs are working in partnership to target those providing an illegal service to visitors.

As a result, enforcement officers continue to arrest operators, seize vehicles and revoke licenses of offenders.

In January 2010, Private Hire Enforcement operations took place, part-funded by Heart of London Business Alliance.  The results were:

• 138 vehicles stopped
• 9 minicab licenses revoked
• £8k of owed fines recovered
• 4 seizures of vehicles and a minicab
• Intelligence documents compiled for all vehicles

In May 2010, Heart of London Business Alliance funded two further Private Hire Enforcement operations.

The first resulted in:

• 43 vehicles stopped
• 2 PCO licences revoked (i.e. their licence to trade is removed)
• £6k in owed fines recovered
• 2 seizures of vehicles
• Intelligence documents compiled for all vehicles

The second operation resulted in 14 arrests, including 3 for touting.

 

Other Illegal Street Trading

Heart of London have liaised with the West End & Chinatown Safer Neighbourhood Team to provide additional Police and Westminster City Council Enforcement patrols targeting all types of illegal street trading in our area.

The Safer Neighbourhood Team and WCC enforcement continue their multi-agency operations, challenging illegal flower sellers, hot dog vendors, ticket touts, bootleg DVD sellers etc.