Today Love Clapham HQ received a handy little leaflet updating us on the activities of the Clapham Town police force. Love Clapham has a particularly good view of the Clapham police force after they came to our aid on a couple of occasions in the past. In their leaflet the Clapham police highlight the priority to reduce anti-social behaviour in key areas of Clapham and the need to avoid illegal taxi touts.

The leaflet rightly states that “Clapham with its numerous bars and clubs is a target for taxi-touts; where unauthorised cab drivers target late-night party goers outside entertainment venues.” Given that most people hire illegal taxis when they’re not in the best state after a good night out (we’ve all been there), it’s all the more important to keep the message going that illegal taxis can be dangerous. 

Without getting too preachy, Love Clapham has had friends who went through rather nasty incidents by getting into taxi tout cars – and that doesn’t even take into account drivers without proper licenses. Always ask your venue to book you a taxi if you don’t have a number on you, alternatively make sure it’s a London black cab, visit one of the taxi firm shops on the High Streets or near Clapham South tube.

Finally, the best advice to avoid any bad situations: save the number 60835 into your phone and text HOME to it if you’re stuck. You’ll receive a bunch of numbers to call to order a taxi then and there.

The leaflet offers a few other tid bits of advice for a safer neigbourhood. In London it’s easy to ignore life outside of your own home, but Clapham ain’t like no other part of London. Get involved keeping Clapham safe by visiting the Police’s Safer Neighbourhoods website.