YET another safety swoop on East Lancashire taxis uncovers yet another clutch of clapped-out cabs.

This time, it was at Hyndburn where, out of 26 taxis stopped by police and council officials, 19 were ordered off the road.

But what is most disturbing about this is the familiarity of it all.

Time and again, whenever these safety checks are carried out in East Lancashire, the results show that the lives and safety of the public are routinely being put at risk by cowboy taxi operators.

This proves how vital these swoops are. But, each time, we find their value diminished because, overall, the situation gets no better. Indeed, at Hyndburn, it was found to be worse

At the root of this is the free-for-all climate that was inspired when local authorities began handing out private hire operators' licences like confetti.

They have tightened up the situation immensely since, but we are still paying for the encouragement of low standards at the start.

Yet it is no good having these periodic spot checks and extra MoT-style tests for cabs if, as seems evident, large sectors of the cab trade seem determined to resist the improvement of passenger safety. The rogue element must be got rid of.

Catching them is obviously no problem - when so many are routinely netted in these swoops. But is that the same as banning them - for good?

And taking them to court for breaking the law? It seems that too little deterrence goes with the detection.

The time has comes for the authorities to show zero tolerance towards the cowboys. Lives depend on it.

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