Release date: 25.07.08
Ref: BBC/PR/L&D/21/08

Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council has today (Friday, 25 July) revoked the licence of a hackney carriage driver for ‘flimping’ - illegally picking up someone off the street who has not pre-booked the vehicle.

A driver who illegally picks someone up off the street invalidates the vehicle’s insurance, placing not only the passengers at risk, but also every other road user.

The driver was caught by Newcastle City Council in a recent sting operation.

Licensing Manager David Wilson said:
“If a driver is caught illegally picking up a fare off the street, we will revoke their licence if we are satisfied the person is not a fit and proper person to be a taxi driver.

“I’d like to thank Newcastle City Council for their co-operation in this matter. If they had not shared their evidence with us, we would not have been able to take action in this matter to protect the people of Newcastle from the risk of being carried in uninsured vehicles.

“We are also continuing to carry out regular enforcement and any driver caught picking up an illegal fair will also face having their licence revoked,” he said.