Illegal citizens' band radios were seized in a huge city swoop on cabbies after complaints they were interfering with Bradford's vital emergency frequencies.

And a councillor has warned the blitz will continue across the district, including Keighley, Bingley and Shipley.

The cheap American radios used by drivers to speak to each others were said to be interfering with police, fire and ambulance radios. In a six hour operation by police, Bradford Council, Department of Trade and Customs and Excise in the city centre, 72 cabs and lorries were stopped and 10 illegal radios seized. Drivers now face prosecution.

In addition, a vehicle with illegal red diesel was impounded by Customs and Excise officials, and Bradford Council banned five cabs with vehicle defects from the roads

Defective cabs were allowed back on the roads by Council enforcement officers after faults were rectified

Customs and Excise officers are investigating use of the illegal diesel.

Councillor Phil Thornton, who had warned people's lives could be at risk and the situation woukld not be tolerated, said: "We are determined to protect the public. It is appalling to hear of effects on emergency services."

Legal radio systems were operated by the main taxi companies but the drivers had modified CBs for their own use, he added.

Inspector Paul Jeffrey, of Odsal police, said: "If the radios were interfering with the emergency services, it is potentially very serious and represent a risk to the public.

"The public have a right to know they are travelling in a safe and well-maintained taxi.

"This crackdown was a good example of agencies working together to promote community safety."

Steven Pickering, proprietor of Dalesman Central Taxis, Skipton, said: "It's quite a widespread problem. The ambulance signals do bleed over on to our bands, especially when they are within 50 yards of the taxi.

"We all had to have our radios updated recently and that was supposed to blank it out, but it hasn't really worked. There are so many people on such a small band signals are bound to bleed over. The ambulances are allowed a stronger signal than us, so I don't think we have caused them any problems."

Mr Pickering said that he expected signal system to go digital in the future, which would eliminate the problem of interference.

But secretary of Bradford Hackney Carriage Association Itikhar Bhatti said drivers were being discriminated against: "It is an absolute disgrace." There would probably be a mass meeting of drivers next week, he said.

T&A Opinion

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