Crackdown on UK's tourist scamming hotspot begins as arrests are made

A crackdown connected amerciable traders scamming tourists astatine hotspots successful London has started arsenic a antheral has been fined implicit £11,000 for selling blistery dogs from a cart connected Westminster Bridge

An amerciable blistery canine trader targeting tourists successful London has been fined arsenic portion of a crackdown connected tourist scamming hotspots.

In caller months, Westminster Bridge successful the centre of London has go a hive of enactment - not each of it legal. Gaggles of tourists are invited to pay-to-play games by gambling gangs, portion traders without licenses clog the road.

Fikaj Xhyhen, 38, peddled nutrient from a cart adjacent to London’s South Bank connected Westminster Bridge, but was issued respective informing to not commercialized from the determination without gaining the applicable licenses, the Evening Standard reported. He has present been convicted of 18 offences nether the London Local Authorities Act 1990 and been fined £11,388 at Croydon Magistrates' Court for ignoring the warnings.

Fikaj was caught by Lambeth Council's anti-social behaviour team, who worked successful the country alongside a assemblage information patrol squad and South Bank Employers Group, who past brought prosecutions against him and a 2nd antheral Edmir Lika, 41, who flogged artwork connected the bridge.

If caught trading illegally again, Fikaj volition person his trolley seized. At the aforesaid tribunal hearing, Edmir from Walthamstow, received fines wholly £1,326 for 2 offences, positive the forfeiture and demolition of seized items.

Councillor Dr Mahamed Hashi, Lambeth’s furniture subordinate for safer communities, said: “I invited the court’s pugnacious enactment successful these 2 cases arsenic they nonstop a beardown connection that we volition not tolerate amerciable traders successful our borough. The result successful respect of Xhyhen is peculiarly satisfying, and I afloat enactment the steadfast stance taken by the tribunal successful that case.

“Unlicensed thoroughfare trading is simply a long-standing issue, peculiarly successful engaged areas similar the South Bank. It tin make congestion, obstruct pavements, and undermine section businesses that comply with regulations. Traders often determination locations rapidly and usage mendacious information, making it hard to unafraid convictions.

“Witness statements from section businesses and residents, and enforcement records were cardinal to successfully prosecuting this case.”

This 1 illustration of amerciable thoroughfare trading is portion of a larger effort to crackdown connected tourer scamming traders. Lambeth Council says it volition proceed to instrumentality enforcement enactment against amerciable traders by patrolling high-risk areas to deter repetition offending, seizing goods and instrumentality from unlicensed traders and taking further ineligible enactment wherever necessary.

Last week, Transport for London (TfL) invited the nationalist to person their accidental connected regulating pedicabs successful the superior for the archetypal time. The consultation, which is unfastened until March 7, 2025, marks the archetypal measurement towards regularisation nether the Pedicabs (London ) Act 2024.

Often seen crossed the metropolis extracurricular of theatres oregon successful areas with ample crowds, pedicabs are the lone unregulated signifier of nationalist transport successful London, which has pb to inconsistencies successful services and rip-off fare.

TfL's proposals purpose to guarantee some passengers and pedestrians stay safe, whilst besides minimising fare issues and antisocial behaviour caused by the large euphony galore pedicabs play and mediocre driving. The suggest reulations would mean that each pedicab drivers would person a one-year pedicab driver's license, request to conscionable a acceptable of information standards and acquisition transgression inheritance checks.

Drivers would besides request to person the due security and person their vehicles inspected regularly.

Will Norman, the walking and cycling commissioner, said: "Pedicabs should beryllium a amusive and sustainable mode for radical to spot London but, without regulation, immoderate drivers are behaving unsafely oregon antisocially, and charging extortionate prices."

Helen Chapman, TfL’s manager of licensing & regulation, said: "Pedicabs are the lone signifier of unregulated nationalist transport successful London and person an interaction connected the information of the capital’s roadworthy network, arsenic good arsenic customers being charged well-documented rip-off fares, truthful we’re pleased to beryllium capable to motorboat this consultation."

Dee Corsi, main enforcement of New West End Company, said: "We invited Transport for London’s advancement with the Pedicabs Act. This caller strategy volition positively interaction the West End, a planetary flagship destination. The consultation is simply a captious measurement towards ensuring rider and pedestrian safety. We look guardant to playing our portion successful shaping a safer and much nonrecreational pedicab work for all."