A ZERO tolerance campaign is to be launched against private hire drivers who illegally ply for trade in Blackburn and Darwen.

Council chiefs are worried about the number of unlicensed, rogue drivers illegally plying for trade in the borough and leaving their passengers uninsured.

They have launched the crackdown following an escalation of the problem and the arrest of a driver for an alleged sex attack on a woman in a private hire car.

The move comes after a rising number of complaints from members of the public, black cab operators in the borough and the Transport and General Workers Union.

Under the regulations only black cabs can be flagged down by the public and passengers who get in a private hire car which is not booked are not insured.

The drivers insurance is also invalid if he breaks the current regulations and the council is keen to stamp out the illegal trade.

Nine drivers face losing their licences after being caught in a recent undercover swoop organised by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

They will be prosecuted in the magistrates courts and have their licences reviewed by the public protection sub-committee.

More undercover operations are being planned by the council and extra conditions will be placed on private hire licences.

The clampdown follows several safety blitzes on private hire cars and a row over mechanical checks.

Thani Nathan, the borough's environmental health manager, is in charge of the purge.

He said: "We are very concerned about what has been happening and are determined to halt to this illegal trade.

"People should understand that their safety is at risk when they get into a private hire car which has not been pre-booked.

"The driver's insurance is invalid because he is breaking council regulations."

The crackdown will be discussed at a public protection sub-committee on Wednesday.

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