Posts Tagged ‘Company’

My Night As An Illegal Cabbie

I spent a very cold October night working undercover for Company magazine as an illegal minicab driver. It was enough to make me contributor of the month for the second time ever, which was lovely. Journalists love going undercover, even if only in Clapham on a Saturday night.

Company magazines contributor of the month panel, December 2009

Company magazines contributor of the month panel, December 2009

Although I must get them a new photo. The story did feel a worthwhile thing to do: I was genuinely amazed at the number of girls who willingly leapt in the back of my dodgy motor. (To be fair, I’ve done it myself a few times before.) Click here to read the full story:

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My Night As An Illegal Cabbie

Undercover Company journalist Jeff Maysh poses as an illegal minicab driver, to meet the girls who take that ultimate risk- just to get home safely.

“Locals call this ‘the witching hour’. It’s 2am and on London’s Clapham High Street, the air is cold and suddenly full of swearing and shouting and sirens. Nightclub ‘Infernos’ has kicked out, and flashing blue lights are illuminating crowds of bare-legged young women, waving aimlessly at passing taxis, looking lost and vulnerable. I can’t find the heater in this strange car, because I’ve hired my aging saloon to blend in among the scores of illegal minicabs cruising the area, aiming to pick up these girls. Tonight I’m posing as one of London’s many unlicensed drivers, and it looks like I’m about to attract my first potential ‘victim.’…”