Wakefield Council’s Community Safety campaign - Have a Safe Journey Home - is raising awareness of the dangers of taking unlicensed taxis.
Posters, pocket size reminders, and beermats are being distributed widely across the district with the help of Wakefield Express as part of the Streetsafe campaign being run in association with the police.

A motion to back the campaign by Cllr Hazel Chowcat was passed at the meeting of full Council on 9th February, following the death of a young Wakefield woman and a woman in Cambridge who had accepted lifts from unlicensed minicab drivers.

Cllr Chowcat was concerned about the public’s lack of awareness about the laws governing private hire and licensed hackney carriages. One of the differences is that hackney carriages, which bear a white licence plate, can be hailed in the street, whereas private hire vehicles, carrying a yellow plate, have to be pre-booked.

Cllr Chowcat said: “Owners of private hire and hackney carriages pay for their licence which shows they have been vetted by the Council and the drivers carry ID. Unlicensed vehicles (or minicabs) have not been inspected, are not insured to carry passengers, and drivers have not been through a CRB check, so anyone using them is putting themselves at an unnecessary risk.”

Ann Boyens, Community Safety Manager, said: “We are extremely concerned about night-time safety issues, and so we will be distributing this publicity to pubs and clubs across the district.
“The pocket size reminders and beermats have various tips about what to do and not to do when taking a taxi.

“The campaign fits into a much broader partnership activities to tackle problems associated with the night time economy, such as alcohol fuelled violence and disorder, and personal safety issues for those visiting the town and city centres in the district.

“We hope that this publicity will make people realise that they must be more careful when taking a taxi home and the reason why licensed taxis are definitely the better option.”

The do’s and don’ts on taking a taxi include:-

• Checking for a licence plate on the back of the vehicle
• Checking the driver displays a valid photo ID badge
• Not getting into an unmarked saloon car or MPV
• Not flagging down a vehicle unless it has an illuminated taxi sign
• Realising that private hire cars need to be pre-booked

Anyone wanting to find out more about taxi licences can contact the Council’s licensing section on 01924 302921 or email licensingoffice@wakefield.gov.uk.