CUMBRIA Police have defended officers parking in a taxi rank, as they were responding to a 999 call.

Officers were criticised by cabbie, Craig Tyson, after he spotted them parked up in the taxi rank in Barrow.

He claimed the officers' actions were just one of many problems facing the town's taxi drivers.

However, the force has responded to reassure residents that they adhere to road laws, but in this instance it was the closest spot to park to attend an emergency callout.

Mr Tyson, a cabbie of more than nine years, said coronavirus had brought many problems include a fall in demand in fares and many residents abusing taxi ranks because parking wardens were absent.

Cumbria Constabulary investigated the incident dating back to October 7 and found that the officers photographed were responding to an emergency 999 call.

A police spokesman said: “Police at the time were responding to a 999 call and this was the closest and safest place for officers to park.

“There will be times when police have to park in contravention of road traffic laws and there are exemptions in place for this, allowing officers to respond to incidents and protect the public in the most timely and safe manner.”

Vehicles (other than taxis) are not permitted to park in a taxi rank with the following exemptions: council/ government department in pursuance of statutory duties, emergency services, road maintenance, and network and utility services.

Mr Tyson said that the abuse of taxi ranks is a far wider issue, with delivery vehicles and other motorists parking there.

This means he and other colleagues have, at times, had to pick customers up in the middle of the road, a serious health and safety concern.

Mr Tyson said: “The issue started to improve for a couple of days as traffic wardens were more present, but then it just went back to square one again.

“It was just a scuffle all of the time.

“I know it is a struggle for the council at the minute with the coronavirus pandemic, so hopefully post-Covid they will get back onto this.”

Pre-Covid parking officers patrolled the streets around Barrow between 9am and 5pm.

A spokesman for Cumbria County Council previously told The Mail: “The council is aware of this issue and will increase patrols of taxi ranks during working hours to monitor the situation and take enforcement action against any and all vehicles parked illegally.”

The lack of taxi business in Barrow has now led to Mr Tyson, a cabbie of nine years, changing the use of his vehicle by delivering pizzas in order to keep financially secure.