MPS strategy to enhance safety for users of minicabs

Report: 11
Date: 28 February 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report outlines the measures being undertaken by the MPS in relation to women's safety whilst travelling in unlicensed minicabs and work being undertaken with other agencies in this area.

A. Recommendations

That Members support the MPS's commitment to address the problem of sexual assaults connected to unlicensed minicabs by:

• controlling the issue of licenses to drivers
• publicising the dangers to enhance crime prevention and public safety.

B. Supporting information

1. Analysis undertaken by SO11 into sexual assaults involving minicab drivers between 1 April 2001 and 7 January 2002, shows an 18% increase in offences for the nine months period compared to the whole of the previous twelve months (183 relevant incidents compared with 155). Sexual offences committed by male minicab drivers accounted for 3% of all rapes and indecent assaults reported between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001.

2. The authors of the analysis highlighted to Project Sapphire the need for the MPS to raise awareness with the travelling public of the possible dangers of using unlicensed minicab drivers. Advice was sought from the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) on sexual offences. Two members of the IAG, Diana Lamplugh (from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust) and Merlyn Nuttal (representing victims) gave specific guidance on the exact crime prevention advice which needed to be given to the public. This centred on advice that was published by the MPS and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust in the booklet 'Staying Safe' in April 2001

3. There is interest in this issue from various quarters. The Mayor wishes to improve safety for women in London and there are clear implications for Transport for London (TfL).

MPS strategy

4. The safety of women travelling on public transport is being tackled on various fronts by the MPS as follows: -

Westminster Borough

5. Prevention:

The Westminster Policing Plan for 2002 includes an intention to clamp down on the use of unlicensed minicabs in the capital. It features in the public safety element of the plan.

Sapphire Westminster is designing posters for circulation on the London Underground to raise awareness of the dangers of getting into unlicensed mini cabs. They are currently in discussions with TfL in respect of this.

6. Enforcement:

In the last twelve months Traffic Headquarters at Westminster have carried out 26 multi agency operations, principally with the Public Carriage Office (PCO) resulting in

• 3215 minicabs stopped
• 343 mini cabs seized
• 443 warrants executed by bailiffs (with the recovery of £20,400)
• 342 immediate prohibition notices served: issued when a vehicle is not safe to be on the road
• 1366 vehicle offences detected and reported for court action.

Project Sapphire

7. Project Sapphire was launched in January 2001 to improve the investigation of rape offences and enhance victim care. This team has responsibility for implementing a strategy to deal with the sexual assaults that arise from minicabs.

8. Crime prevention

Various initiatives are being undertaken to raise awareness of this issue, including working with clubs and pubs (in particular, bouncers at these premises).

9. Enforcement

Project Sapphire is:

• Liaising with both the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the MPA (Elizabeth Howlett) in respect of women's safety and transport in London.
• Working closely with the Public Carriage Office (PCO) who are engaged in the roll out of the licensing of minicab operators which is now well under way (currently 2000 companies have applied). It is estimated that the licensing of drivers will take three years to implement.
• Liaising with the PCO regarding the guidelines for refusing licenses based on previous convictions. This will be based on current research into escalation from low level offences into serious sexual assault.
• Aiming to establish a protocol for notification of inappropriate behaviour by cab drivers to the PCO. This will then be publicised throughout the MPS.
• Liaising with the implementation of the proposed Transport for London Operational Command Unit. If approved, this OCU will be responsible for the policing of all transport issues including the problems arising from minicabs. Project Sapphire will advise them over the sexual assault issues and assist with setting up an integrated intelligence system with borough officers to ensure that all intelligence is recorded and analysed centrally.
• Setting up an intelligence capability. It is intended to produce strategic intelligence reports researching other sexual assault related issues. This will include the issue of passengers being targeted as a result of travelling on night buses and the Underground. Once these problems have been assessed, suitable strategies can be developed to deal with them.

C. Financial implications

There are no financial implications specifically associated with this report.

D. Background papers

None.

E. Contact details

Report author: DCI Richard Walton, MPS.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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