MIDDLESBROUGH Council's crackdown on cowboy taxis appears to be paying dividends

During the first nine months of this year, 16 people have appeared before courts for breaching taxi licensing laws.

In the cases, the courts have given out fines of more the £3,600 and awarded costs in excess of £2,700.

In one case, a law-breaking cabbie was banned from driving for six months and on eight other occasions, drivers had their licences endorsed by six to eight points for driving without appropriate insurance.

A 60-hour community service penalty was handed out to one cabbie who was driving while disqualified and without insurance, who then provided false information.

Other offences included touting for hire in an unlicensed hackney carriage.

Chairman of the council's licensing committee Councillor Bernard Taylor, said: "These convictions and the penalties handed down by the court show that unlicensed operators trying to ply for hire in Middlesbrough will be prosecuted.

"We want the public to have the utmost confidence in the taxis and private hire vehicles that they use in Middlesbrough.

"Our enforcement officers are there to ensure that taxi operators uphold the highest standards and we will not hesitate to prosecute those who fail to meet those standards."