MP Welcomes New Taxi Service

1.41.15pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 29th May 2003

Jenny Tonge, MP for Richmond Park

Jenny Tonge, MP for Richmond Park, has welcomed the launch of a new taxi service in London in association with LTi (London Taxis International) called Zingo.

This allows people to hail a black cab via their mobile. This new facility will allow people to be connected to the driver of the nearest available licensed black cab.

Jenny Tonge MP: "This service can only help in the campaign to ensure safer travel for women at night. I am very keen to promote it. "

"The service has been launched as part of a new safety campaign by LTi called Taxiwise and is backed by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and the Metropolitan Police's Sapphire Unit. Statistics from the Police show that 214 women have been sexually assaulted and one women a week raped in London after accepting rides in illegal minicabs. "

"I very much hope that this new campaign will make women more aware of the potential dangers they face when riding in bogus minicabs and unliscensed vehicles."

The telephone number of the Zingo service is 08700 700 700

The website is www.zingotaxi.com

For more info on the taxiwise campaign you can visit the website www.taxiwise.com