MP Welcomes London Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan

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MP Welcomes London Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan

Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham and Rainham, has praised new powers for TfL to crack down on illegal taxi and private hire activity and enhance passenger safety. These new powers are part of the Mayor of London's Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan, which will drive up standards, boost the quality of service for Londoners and will help deliver the greenest taxi fleet in the world.

These new powers will mean that for the first time TfL's Taxi and Private Hire officers will be able to stop and check vehicles without the police present mean precious time and resources are saved for law enforcement after a successful trial.

Jon Cruddas MP said: "I've always been a firm supporter of our London cabbies, and over the last few years have spoken too many in my constituency that have been concerned about the lack of regulation and how it has impacted on the black cab trade in particular.

"I welcome this new action plan as it is essential that we give compliance officers the proper powers to do their job, clamping down on illegal activity that puts passengers at risk."

In addition to these new powers, 109 of TfL's Taxi and Private Hire officers are being specially trained under the Community Safety and Accreditation Scheme (CSAS), which will give TfL the ability to conduct more spontaneous road stops. Jon Cruddas MP has history of campaigning for tighter safety regulations for private hire firms and has spoken at the All Party Parliamentary Group for Taxis in support of the LTDA (Licenced Taxi Drivers' Association).

These new measures will work alongside the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police's Safer Travel at Night (STaN) operations throughout the year which helps to detect and deter illegal activity.