Do not travel in unlicensed cabs, warn Barking and Dagenham police
Police are warning those travelling late at night in Barking and Dagenham not to take illegal and unregulated minicabs.
They urge those who plan to drink alcohol to book a taxi beforehand or text CAB to 60835 if they find themselves without a taxi home.
The Cabwise text service will use GPS to text the two nearest minicab numbers and one black cab number.
There are a number of people posing as minicab drivers outside bars and clubs who are unregulated, uninsured and working illegally.
Those travelling in unregulated vehicle face dangers including overcharging, assault, robbery and not being taken to your destination.
Police are urging people to, when possible, travel home with a friend, sit in the back of the cab and keep a mobile phone to hand.
Insp Richard Thomas said: “I would urge everyone to store the Cabwise number on their mobile phone, particularly women. Licensed cab drivers have had their backgrounds checked. Unlicensed drivers could be anyone.
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“Getting into a cab that is cruising late-night venues looking for business is incredibly dangerous and passengers are even more vulnerable if they have been drinking.”
Cabwise texts cost 35p per text plus the standard text message rate.
