TAXI drivers have spoken of an atmosphere of "lawlessness" in Bournemouth, with a "rogue minority" of drivers flouting rules and going unpunished.

At the busy Westover Road taxi rank, many Hackney Carriage drivers said they agreed with John Tye's assessment of the town's taxi trade.

Mr Tye publicly resigned from his position as chairman of the Bournemouth Taxi Trades' Association, saying he could not continue to represent a trade of which he was ashamed.

He told councillors there were some drivers who were flouting the law, ripping-off passengers and being aggressive towards customers and were not facing any enforcement action from the council.

John Shave, a taxi driver for 20 years, said: "There are people in cars who shouldn't be there - bad drivers who over-charge customers.

"The trade is not what it was, there's no camaraderie between drivers and there's a divide between foreign and local drivers that can be really uncomfortable.

"The council don't do anything about the bad drivers. They used to but not anymore. You get private hire drivers picking up off the streets, which they are not allowed to do, and you get drivers ripping-off customers."

Tim Sparks, who drives for Streamline, agreed. He said: "It's getting worse. You used to be given a 'blue book' that set out all the rules and etiquette but that has all gone by the by.

"When I came here in 2001 the trade was run properly and strictly, now the council just aren't interested. We are professional drivers doing a professional job but we are second class, the council cares more about the buses than us.

"There are some good lads and some bad ones. There are people coming into the trade who are quite frankly taking the Mick and ruining it for the rest of us."

Paul Sondheim, who has been driving for 20 years, was highly critical of Bournemouth council. He claimed enforcement was virtually non-existent and said complaints against foreign drivers were not investigated because the council was concerned about appearing racist.

"I've never known such bad feeling in the trade," he said. "There are bad drivers out there who rip people off, who won't take people on short journeys and nothing is done about it. I have previously called Keith Evans (the council's taxi licensing officer) and the whole of the licensing board spineless and I stand by that."

Andy Sexton, a driver for 15 years, said: "It's not too bad in the daytime but I know at night there are problems, it's a bit of a lawless situation.

"There have been loads of times when I take someone to the station and they say 'That's cheap, it cost double that before.'

"I don't really know what the council can do about it, it's just taxi drivers being childish. Most of us are quite honest, decent, hard-working chaps. You just get that rogue element."

And Redhouane Menacer, who drives for United, said: "There are some uneducated drivers who either don't know the rules or don't follow the rules and are just here to make money, they don't care about satisfying the customer.

"The council needs to educate these drivers. It's a very difficult job and you can't just have anyone doing it."

Speaking to the Echo on Saturday, Cllr Andrew Morgan, chairman of the licensing committee, said: “This board is certainly keen and ready to have taxi drivers sitting in front of us who are flouting the regulations.”

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment, said: "We work closely with the Police and the trade to ensure that taxi drivers are observing the rules and adhering to the conditions of their license. Enforcement action will be taken where it can be evidenced that rules are being broken.”

"It is of paramount important to us that taxi drivers act properly and fairly so that passengers receive a safe and pleasant journey."