Taxi Driver Online

A TAXI driver who tried to strangle his passenger is being hunted by police.

The driver was beaten off by a 23-year-old woman close to her home after being picked up outside the Xscape building at 12.30am.

This is the third attack on taxi passengers by drivers in MK in the past six months.

The incident has sparked a war of words between taxi drivers and licensing authority Milton Keynes Council.

Taxi licensing officer Bob Brill and the woman's father have warned people about the dangers of bogus, unlicensed taxis.

But Milton Keynes Independent Private Hire Drivers' Association (MKIPHDA), which represents around 100 drivers, says the problem is due to phantom drivers not bogus taxis.

The victim's father, John Evans, said: "There are taxis out there which are running around, bogus taxis which are taking business from genuine taxis.

"But, more importantly, with all the young people there are in Milton Keynes they're putting their faith and sometimes their lives in taxi drivers' hands."

Matthew Cheyne, spokesman for safe-cab campaign Taxiwise, said: "This incident highlights how important it is to educate people on how they can identify vehicles which are safe and legal to transport them."

Mr Brill said: "As the city is continuing to grow, it is an increasing concern that more attacks will occur and we are currently working closely with Thames Valley Police to clamp down on this issue.

"It is, however, vitally important for people to be cautious and ensure that, where possible, they get into a licensed vehicle so as to ensure that they're as safe as possible.

"Unlicensed taxis are becoming a problem for us."

MKIPHDA spokesman Dennis Edwards said: "The problem is phantom drivers. We hear all the time of licensed taxis being shared by more than one person, so that taxi is on the road most of the time. This is common practice.

"We would like to see random spot checks by the council's taxi licensing office to ensure that the picture on the taxi's badge is the same as that of the driver.

"Something has got to be done, or else next time the victim may not be alive to tell the tale."

Police are understood to be appealing for witnesses to the attack which happened in the early hours of Sunday, March 6.

_________________
IDFIMH

Wonder what Captain will make of that one

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk