POLICE posing as customers have caught five taxi drivers illegally plying for hire.
The five private hire drivers were caught picking up fares that had not been pre-booked.
The police officers had posed as customers and asked the drivers to take them to a prearranged destination. When they did so, uniformed officers and licensing officers were waiting for them.
One of the vehicles was found to be mechanically unsafe so police ordered that it be taken off the road.
Two of the drivers were caught touting for trade in Mirfield and three in Holmfirth.
They now face a suspension pending an appearance before Kirklees Council’s Regulatory Panel and prosecution for the offence of illegal plying for hire.
The enforcement exercise is the second joint operation to be carried out in Kirklees recently and letters had gone out to every licensed driver informing them that more are planned.
Private hire drivers who pick up fares which are not pre-booked are not only operating illegally but their insurance does not cover them for the journey.
