The Metropolitan Police Roads & Transport team have highlighted a number of offences by private hire drivers and illegal touts who have been caught breaking the law over the past two days.
Using social media to publicly shine the spotlight on the offenders, Roads & Transport MPS (@MPSRTPC) wrote: "#CabsUnit deployed to @MPSHeathrow over the last 2 days have reported 5 drivers for various offences. 2 drivers for plying for hire & accepting a booking & 1 driver for touting @ T2.
"2 drivers for plying for hire & accepting a booking @T4. Prosecution files being built for all 5."
In addition to the five drivers caught illegally operating at Heathrow Airport, two more men were charged after plain clothes officers caught them touting for work - one in the Westminster area and the other back at Heathrow.
It is against the law for any private hire licensed driver to accept a job which has not been pre-booked through a licensed operator. It is also against the law to tout members of the public offering private hire services.
Those successfully prosecuted are likely to face a fine, points on their licence and the revocation of their private hire driver's licence.
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