Complaint over taxi crime claims

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7049236.stm

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An official complaint is to be made over claims Tayside Police "turn a blind eye" to private hire cab companies breaking licensing rules.

Taxi drivers' representatives plan to write to the chief constable to question the force's conduct.

They claim officers have not investigated reports of private hire drivers routinely touting for business in the streets.

The allegation has been denied by Tayside Police.

Graeme Stephen from the Dundee Taxi Owners Association said: "I'll be writing a letter to the chief constable listing all our concerns with Tayside Police.

"They are not cracking down on touts."

Taxi drivers in Dundee are embroiled in a bitter dispute with the authorities over a number of issues, including private hire firms.

They have staged rolling road blocks in the city centre at peak times, and threatened more industrial action.

The private hire complaint was on the agenda at recent talks with Dundee City Council's taxi liaison group, which collapsed when trade representatives walked out.

Officers from Tayside Police told the meeting that there was no evidence of any laws being broken.

A spokeswoman for Tayside Police said: "If anyone has complaints about standard of service, they can make an official complaint which will be fully investigated."