Manchester.

I am in reciept of one of the best email exchanges I have had for several years. The following was direct to the Inspector of Police at Manchester 'A' division.

I am proud to reproduce it, but , when we pay the highest Licence fee's fee's in the Country, why do just a few driver's have to do the work of Council staff, who, in this case appear to take August off. ??
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Inspector Greenslade

Could you please advise me on who it is I should contact in order to commend officer 1134, ably assisted by officer 14777? My colleague Andrew Hardman and myself approached the officers about the illegality of a private hire pick up point operated by Manchester Cars on Princess Street last night. The pick up point was supposed to be a pick up point for pre-allocated vehicles taking pre-booked work. The officers observed briefly and took on board that all passengers approaching were simply entering into the first vehicle and details were clearly being taken by Manchester Cars employee. The officers approached the employee and asked for details of the operation and then asked how the bookings were being made. The employee openly accepted that he was taking the bookings at the pick up point itself. Officer 1134 then ordered him to stop and pointed out that only pre-booked work was to be taken from that point forth. He asked who his superior was and set off to the office in order to address this large scale offending.

Of course, after a brief period, the 'tout' carried on operating illegally. The problem is clearly that the licensing department sanction these pick up points in the first place. They are obviously going to be abused and lead to mass breaches of s.45 Town Police Clauses Act 1847. Tonight will be no different and neither will the rest of the weekend. Of course, the licensing department hide behind their 'unequivocal' instructions that these are to be pick up points only. It's ridiculous. Do they not make observations and enquiries as to the mechanisms of the way these operations actually work on the ground? It took these officers' a couple of minutes to ascertain illegality yet licensing see no problems with the operations.

I have been justifiably hard on the police in terms of holding them to account when it comes to a previous level of unwillingness to enforce where licensing offences are being committed. I think it only right that I acknowledge good practice when it occurs. These two officers' took their duty seriously and intervened. I commend them and hope to see greater intervention in the future.

Yours appreciatively
Karl Warburton (and Andrew Hardman)