ROGUE taxi drivers in Burnley have been warned they will be caught after two drivers were fined.

Benjamin Chamberlain and Aurangeb Khan appeared before magistrates in Reedley. Chamberlain was fined £100 and ordered to pay £75 costs for driving a private hire vehicle without holding a private hire driver's licence.

Khan was fined £200 and ordered to pay £75 costs after driving a hackney carriage without holding a hackney carriage driver's licence.

The prosecutions were welcomed by the chairman of the Burnley Private Hire Association, Jason Fallaize, who works for Brittons Taxis in Briercliffe Road. He said: "We support this action strongly. We have been reporting illegal taxi drivers for the past four years. We would like to see more prosecutions.

"We think that would deter people. Once people who are driving illegal taxis see action being taken I cannot imagine them wanting to continue.

"It all comes down to public safety. Every legitimate taxi driver is checked by the police every three years, but those without a licence could be up to anything.

"Members of the public in Burnley would have no idea who is picking them up. We pay a lot for our insurance, but there is no guarantee these people will be insured. If someone had an accident in one of these cars they would not be able to claim. If they are not displaying a badge they are not licensed."

Chairman of Burnley Council's licensing committee, John Cavanagh, said: "The council are determined to take all steps to enforce taxi legislation to ensure that the public are protected as much as possible and these are examples of effective enforcement."

Council licensing officer Mick Armfield said: "The vast majority of drivers are fully licensed. It is just the odd one or two who tend to flout the regulations.

"Enforcement of regulations will continue to be carried out."

And a police spokesman commented: "The vast majority of operators and individual drivers do observe the law but there have been instances when drivers haven't and we obviously welcome council measures to tackle those few individuals."