Met swoops on minicabs

A surprise five-hour swoop on illegal minicab operators ended with numerous arrests and cars being towed away.

Police officers, bailiffs, immigration and council officials last night stopped and checked minicabs in the West End in a bid to remove dangerous cars and catch unlicensed drivers. Thousands of pounds of unpaid fines were recovered.

The operation, days after police estimated the number of sex attacks by unlicensed minicab drivers had topped 1,000 a year in central London, was also used as an intelligence-gathering operation.

It was watched by transport commissioner Bob Kiley and Mayor Ken Livingstone, who trumpeted the success of his recent attempt to boost the number of black cabs on the street by hiking up fares.

He said: "It has been very effective. There is no excuse not to take a black cab now."

Blunkett meets 'zero tolerance' chief
Traffic police to hit streets