Early on Saturday night, we were told there was to be a massive, highly visible compliance presence (code named "operation neon") in the West End. 

Just before midnight we heard on Twitter, that compliance teams were outside a few of the major night venues. 

Compliance officers were spotted walking passed the line of touts, parked in the Regent Street bus lane outside the Swallow Street Arch, without saying a word to the drivers. (Nothing new there)

One team arrived at Hakkasan and tried to move on five Taxis, forming a rank outside. The PCOs stood there in disbelief, as taxi drivers explained that this was in fact a licensed Taxi rank and had been appointed by Westminster Council. The compliance officers were them escorted to the board, which notifies the times the rank is active. 

But even then, they couldn't work out where the rank should be. 

The cabbies had to point out the kerbside thick yellow line, which marks the length of the rank. The PCO team stood there with blank faces, (obviously having no idea what the thick yellow line signified).

The Hit Squad a Team then moved on:

One Taxi driver decided to shadow them, as they walked on to Novikov's, passing dozens of Private Hire cars, with their drivers accosting members of the public, touting for work on the east side of Berkeley Square and South along Berkeley Street.

The driver told Taxi Leaks:

"As they walked towards Novikov's, we could hear the touts shouting out to members of the public, Minicab, Taxi Sir...the TfL team took no notice whatsoever and just carried on walking past. They were like men on a mission and were oblivious to what was going on around them"

Arriving at Novikov's, they again harassed just the Taxi drivers saying they were forming an unauthorised rank and should in fact be ranking on the opposite side of the street, on the Holiday Inn rank. 

Again it was pointed out that a kerbside rank had been appointed by Westminster Council and again they were taken to view the board authorising the rank. 

One driver who complained the amount of touting going on was ruining his livelihood was told "Get another Job".

After the embarrassing behaviour of the compliance officers involved, it is now widely believed that operation "Neon" had absolutely nothing to do with public safety. It was never about moving on, harassing or reporting minicab touts for illegally plying for hire. 

It seems to the drivers actually out there on the ranks, this operation was all about giving licensed Taxi drivers grief.

Either that, or it was a public relations exercise that went badly wrong. LTPH's new head of compliance John Strutton should be hanging his head in shame.

Where were their intelligence reports? 

Had they done no research?

How did they not know about the new Taxi rank placements?

The team that visited Hakkasan and Novikov's were clueless and couldn't work out from the signage where the actual ranks should be.

Next time they turn up, it would be a good idea for them to bring a copy of the Traffic Managenent Order with them!

This whole episode was a complete disgrace. 

For months LTPH have been asking drivers on social media to send in full comprehensive information about touting, so they can use this info to build a system of intelligence based enforcement. Thousands of drivers have sent in information either by email of Twitter feed assuming their complaints would be used to build a proper strategy to deal with touting. 

Saturday night proved (as many drivers have always believed) that our efforts to help this intelligence base enforcement, have been no more than a complete waste of time.

These Hi-Viz operations do not appear to be about public safety, they are just a means for TfL to harass the Licensed Taxi trade.

Although compliance officers carry around A4 size copies of the abstract of law, truth is they have little to no knowledge of Hackney carriage regulations or road traffic acts. (Probably because the teams are made up by seconded bus/tube revenue inspectors, looking for a bit of overtime). 

When confronted they seem to think it's quite ok to be sarcastic and aggressive towards Taxi drivers.

These exercises are no more than statistic building window dressing, for top TfL officers to use when under question from the GLA or the media. 

TfL have a duty to provide compliance across a level playing field for both Taxis and Private Hire, for the benefit of public safety. This presently isn't the case and is a major problem that needs addressing.