Warning issued over unlicensed taxis at Christmas

People are being warned by a council to be aware of bogus taxis over the Christmas and New Year period.

North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) advised residents to only book licensed taxis over the festive period.

Councillor Ron Shepherd said: "The public's safety is always our number one priority and we want to reiterate how dangerous getting into an unlicensed taxi can be."

He also urged people to take care of their drinks and to report any incidents of spiking immediately.

NELC advised residents to never get into an unlicensed taxi due to "significant public safety concerns" as they may not be safe or roadworthy.

NELC shared some advice on how to safely take a taxi over the Christmas and New Year period:

• Always used a licensed vehicle.

• When your booked vehicle arrives, make sure the driver can confirm your name and destination before getting in.

• Check the driver's photo ID badge.

• Never risk getting into a private hire vehicle which is not pre-booked.

• Be aware of unlicensed drivers offering lifts through social media.

• Hackney Carriage cabs are the only taxis that can pick up people from the street. They will have a taxi roof sign and a white licence plate on the rear bumper.

The authority has also encouraged those who are having a drink over the festive period to look after it.

They advise anyone who believes they have been spiked to seek medical attention as soon as possible and report the incident to the police.

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