🟦 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐬.

A victory of sort as Mail and Times change photos of London Taxis.

Unfortunately they are still using the word Taxi as the info behind both articles had come the the National Private Hire and Taxi Association.

We believe that this victory is due mainly to the strongly worded communications sent to both papers from 'London Taxi PR', who have again come up trumps for the trade.

We have received this email from the Daily Mail. 

Dear Mr Thomas,

 Thank you for your email which has been passed for my attention.

The editor has confirmed that the image you highlight has been replaced with a more appropriate stock image.

We note that the word ‘taxi’ could refer to any motor vehicle licensed to transport passengers for a fare, so we are satisfied that the usage of the term in this article is accurate.

In view of the above, we can see no reason to remove this article.

Thank you for getting in touch.

Sincerely,

Sam Muir

Compliance Editor

And have sent them this further reply. 

Dear Sam

The word Taxi (if researched properly) refers to a vehicle transporting paying passengers, that is exclusively fitted with a Taxi Meter, which calculates the fare. 

In UK legislation, only Hackney Carriage Vehicles are allowed to have Taxi meters. Private Hire cars (minicabs) are not allowed under legislation to be fitted with such device, and can not use the word Taxi in any way, be it signage on the vehicle, or in any form of advertising of their business. 

In London, this is covered by the Private Hire Act 1998 section 31

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/34/section/31

The article published by your paper refers to a recent court case that is only applicable to the Private Hire trade and has nothing to do with Taxis or the Licensed Taxi trade. The ruling makes that clear. 

Therefore I would ask you again to either remove this article from your website, or at least change the wording from Taxi to Private hire. 

James Thomas 

Editor New Taxi Leaks.

Sunday Times have removed the image of London Taxi, but still using the word Taxi in their post.