Taxi Driver Online

This is Ireland rather than the UK, but some interesting bits and pieces here, especially the ID app thing

But, as per what the article says, the numbers don't seem as high as I'd guess, but no doubt a lot of attacks not reported.

And, of course, Ireland's population only 5 million, as opposed to England's 60 million or so.

(And, despite my thread title, the article isn't really about the app, but thought that aspect of it all was a bit unusual, at least by the way we do things here...)


‘You should be entitled to get into a taxi and get home safe’ – 70 sex attacks in taxis reported in seven years

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/c ... 53935.html

Real figure could be much higher, experts warn after Raymond Shorten’s rape conviction, while calls grow for CCTV in vehicles to protect both drivers and passengers

Seventy people reported being either raped or sexually assaulted in taxis ­between 2017 and last year, according to official figures.

However, this figure could be the tip of the iceberg, as many rapes and sexual assaults go unreported.

“All these people were doing was taking a taxi home,” Professor Maeve Eogan, HSE national clinical lead for Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) services, said.

The Irish Independent carried out an investigation into alleged sexual crimes in taxis in the wake of 50-year-old ­Dublin taxi driver Raymond Shorten being found guilty of raping two young women on separate summer nights in 2022.

Shorten, from Melrose Crescent, Clondalkin, Dublin, will be sentenced on July 1. A young woman coerced into sex while drunk in his taxi has told how she suspects there are more victims out there.

According to SATU statistics, eight people reported an allegation of being either raped or sexually assaulted in a taxi last year, while 10 people reported alleged incidents in taxis in 2022.

Eight people claimed they were victims of sexual violence in taxis in 2021.

The data recording sexual crimes by location only put taxis specifically on the list in 2021. However, the Irish ­Independent has confirmed that between 2017 and 2020, there were 44 reports of sexual crimes in taxis.

The data covering taxis has been collected by six SATUs across Ireland.

“People feel a taxi is a safe place to be. There may be more people who chose not to disclose and report,” Prof Eogan said.

“The majority of taxi drivers are ­perfectly safe, law-abiding people and are not predatory. But, as a society, we need to look out for each other. I have teenage children, it’s important they are advised in terms of safe taxi-taking.”

Prof Eogan urged those who have suffered sexual violence to come forward.

She described the Shorten prosecution as “a landmark case”, in that it had highlighted to society that “there are predators” who must be brought to justice.

It is vital that survivors of sexual violence avail of “holistic supports” and the SATUs are there to support those who have suffered sexual crimes, she added.

The number of sexual assaults in ­taxis is lower than expected, according to the data.

For example, last year there were 243 sexual assault allegations relating to taxis where the assault allegedly happened in the perpetrators’ home.

A further 235 sexual assault allegations involving taxis covered “home” as a location and 49 people said attacks happened in fields or parks.

It is unclear from the statistics whether it is the driver of a fellow passenger who carried out the alleged sexual assault.

Taxi driver representative groups said drivers should be given a subsidy to install cameras in taxis, to offer security both to passengers and drivers.

Irish Taxi Drivers’ Federation (ITDF) vice-president James Maguire said: “This is going to happen again if we don’t do something now.

“CCTV 100pc needs to be compulsory in taxis. It should be introduced as part of the licence. CCTV will make the passenger feel safe and the driver feel safe.”

Derek Devoy, founder of a mental health group for drivers, Taxi Watch, said: “I firmly believe CCTV should be installed in every taxi. I always had CCTV and I know it kept me safe in my cab for 25 years.
“This needs to be done to offer ­security to passengers now, as well as drivers if they are under threat of assault.

“You should be entitled to get into a taxi and get home safe.”

Industry representatives and the ­National Transport Authority (NTA) also advised customers to order vehicles via taxi apps, to plan journeys and to use the Transport for Ireland Driver Check app to establish driver identity.

Some within the industry are also keen to see tighter vetting of drivers.

“We need everyone to feel safe out there,” Mr Maguire said. “That’s what you have to do. I can’t see any other way, otherwise we are clutching at straws.

“Ninety-nine per cent of the taxi drivers are fine but there’s the 1pc we don’t know about.”

Mr Maguire said he had ­previously driven a woman to a garda station ­after she disclosed she had been raped.

In the days since the court ruling, young women have already stepped up their security when getting into taxis, according to drivers.

Prof Eogan also acknowledged the role some taxi drivers had played in helping victims after sexual attacks.

“There’s been some really kind taxi drivers, getting people to the SATUs and not charging them [a fare],” she said.

“The one positive from the [Shorten] case is, it’s highlighting to people this is unacceptable.

“Rape and sexual assault is a crime and it can be reported to the gardaí, who’ll take it seriously.

“Sometimes people can feel very judged in terms of something that happened to them, particularly if they drank alcohol. This case highlights to people that what happened to them will be taken seriously.

“We need to look out for each other. If someone has a friend going into a taxi, ask yourself, ‘Is it a safe taxi?’. Does that person need to be accompanied or can they let you know when they’re home?

“There’s only one cause of rape, the people who rape. There’s no other cause.

“It doesn’t matter if someone has had alcohol, it doesn’t matter what they’re wearing. But I also do feel equally, our personal safety is important.

“We need to strive to make our society as safe as possible. We need a zero-­tolerance approach to sexual crimes.”

The NTA said there are currently no regulations in place to introduce cameras in taxis.

The Department of Transport is ultimately responsible for this area.

The Irish Independent asked the Department of Transport, the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána for a response on the issue.

A spokesperson for the NTA said: “It goes without saying that any attacks such as the one involving a taxi driver reported [recently], is horrific for the victims.

“While it is thankfully the case that incidents such as these are relatively rare, one attack is too many.

“An Garda Síochána is the licensing authority for Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs) and they undertake checks on drivers at various points, including licensing application stage and licensing renewal stage.

“The Taxi Regulation Act 2013 provides for mandatory disqualification for life from holding an SPSV driver licence on certain convictions, including rape.

“NTA encourages passengers to use the Transport for Ireland driver check app to ascertain the identity of their driver, before their journey starts.

“Overall, customer satisfaction with safety in and around taxis is very high, according to NTA research.

“There’s a legal prohibition on SPSV services being provided by unlicensed, and therefore unvetted, drivers.”

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can call the 24-hour Rape Crisis Centre on freephone 1800 77 8888.

That's all a bit bizarre. But if even the researchers don't know what the figures mean, then they're very probably unreliable.


Oh, really? Not sure any proper 'taxi' reps would advise customers to pre-book


Had a look at the stuff for that, and don't like the look of it at all

I mean, any passenger can get your name and photo just by keying in your plate or badge number? I mean, lots of councils in the UK don't have the names on the badges so the driver's name isn't known

And, even worse, any scrote on the street could just key in your plate number (which are on the roofsigns) or even car registration number into this app and get your name and photo, correct me if I'm wrong?

(And presumably the licensing records tie the driver to a particular vehicle - that certainly wouldn't work here in NE Fife or at least if it did then drivers wouldn't be able to switch cars easily as they do here in some of the offices, at least as regards drivers who aren't also owners.)

https://youtu.be/f-W5iaDCk6w

You have to wonder if data protection has been adequately considered with driver identity apps ?

This to me looks like a poorly researched bit of journalism masquerading as a public safety campaign.

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector