An Express investigation has exposed a Romanian gang targeting millions of tourists in central London, with pedicab riders charging fares up to £350 and illegal ice cream vans operating near Westminster Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, and New Scotland Yard.
Political leaders have labelled the activity a “disgraceful symbol of broken Britain.” Around Westminster Bridge alone—crossed by over 15 million tourists every year—honest pedicab riders are being bullied out of the market by an organised group from Romania, while legitimate ice cream vendors face a rival fleet of illegal vans absorbing council fines as a “business expense.”
Confrontation and hidden price cards
“A Romanian gang takes tourists and charges them £350 [for short pedicab journeys],” an employee of an official tour company told the Express. “They are scammers.”
When the Express team confronted the operators in Westminster, Piccadilly, and Leicester Square, they reacted aggressively or fled. Multiple pedicab riders were caught on camera hiding laminated menu cards quoting exorbitant £165 fees, and the moment questions were asked, they claimed not to understand English.
Political reaction
Reform UK London mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham believes the investigation shows how “law and order in Sadiq Khan's London has completely collapsed, right up to the front door of Parliament.” She added: “If our police force cannot even secure the square mile surrounding New Scotland Yard and the Houses of Parliament, what hope does the rest of the nation have? This isn't just about rogue pedicabs or illegal ice cream vans—it is a visual symbol of Broken Britain.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the situation demonstrates how the “law has become a joke.”
“It is a disgrace that crooks can fleece tourists in the shadow of Parliament and jeer at the police while they do it,” he said. “Labour has let the law become a joke, and criminals treat fines as a cost of doing business because Labour has given them nothing to fear. The UK should never be a place where you can rob visitors outside the seat of Government and get away with it.”
Overcharging and new regulations
The Express team tracked one pink rickshaw taking a couple of tourists less than a mile from Westminster Bridge to Buckingham Palace—a trip that should cost around £15 under proposed regulated caps. When the pair was spoken to, they revealed the rider had charged them £40. The rider refused to answer questions about why he had overcharged them, claiming only that he “didn't speak English.”
After decades of exploiting a legal loophole, pedicabs face a massive Government crackdown, with new laws coming into force on October 30th that introduce mandatory background checks, basic English requirements, and strict price caps. Yet while some riders prepare for the change, the gangs show no intention of complying.
The frustration of competing with these rogue outfits was expressed by a veteran pedicab driver in Piccadilly: “The Romanian guys don't follow the rules; they are scamming and earn more money illegally.”
There was equal anger beside the London Eye, where a legitimate ice cream vendor said their expensive licence was rendered useless because a fleet of illegal rivals simply parks on double yellow lines a short distance away. “They just get penalty fines, and they're happy with it. They just park there every day all summer. Ticket, penalty fare—they just don't care.” When the Express approached a van displaying a yellow council fine sticker on its window, the driver sped off, only to return shortly after, accompanied by other rogue traders.
Council and police response
Local Government officials told the Express they were working with authorities to tackle the issue, but called on Sir Sadiq Khan to help them go further.
Westminster Cabinet Member for Enforcement, Cllr Caroline Sargent, said: “Transport for London will be responsible for licensing and enforcing the new pedicab regime, including fare controls to help protect passengers from overcharging. We now want to see the Mayor's Office ensure the new regime is rolled out in a way that enables local authorities such as Westminster to integrate it effectively with existing enforcement activity and properly understand any associated resource requirements. Alongside TfL's new powers, the Council will continue, where required, to use its own enforcement powers to tackle anti-social behaviour from pedicab riders on Westminster's streets.”
Lambeth Cabinet Member Jonathan Bartley said his local authority was exploring more ways to protect the public. “These illegal traders exploit tourists, operate outside the licensing regime designed to protect the public and cause obstruction on one of the most iconic and busiest routes into our borough,” he said. “Lambeth Council has taken significant enforcement action, including seizing ice-cream vans and prosecuting people for illegal trading. In the last month alone, we have successfully prosecuted individuals for operating unlicensed vans and for selling without a valid street-trading licence. But the fact that some traders simply return after being moved on, fined or prosecuted shows that enforcement as it stands is not sufficient. This is a lucrative and persistent illegal trade, and we need to be prepared to look at what more can be done to disrupt it.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “The Met continues to crack down on unlawful pedicab activity in central London because of the disruption and nuisance it can cause to residents and businesses. We are making greater use of Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) powers to fine pedicab riders who behave in an antisocial or intimidating way and remove them from busy areas. Over 200 PSPO fines have been issued to pedicab riders so far this year. Allegations of organised crime, exploitation or money laundering are investigated where appropriate.”
Transport for London has been contacted for comment.
