More than 300 attacks on taxi drivers

There have been more than 300 attacks on cabbies in Preston in the last 12 months. Taxi firms across the city spoke of incidents involving robberies, thefts and a range of assaults – from physical attacks to stone throwing.

One firm, VIP Cabs, in Market Street West, said 20 of its drivers had been physically attacked in the last 12 months although only five incidents were reported to police.

Another firm – Street Cars – said it usually had at least one incident each day involving youths throwing stones at drivers on estates like Greenlands. A driver for A6 Taxis had a bottle smashed over his head and a cabbie at Miller Taxis had curry powder thrown in his face.

Last week, a Miller driver said his cab had been shot at twice by armed robbers in Fulwood – an incident police are still investigating. The figure came as every taxi driver in Preston is to be issued with personal safety advice. Letters will be sent to 730 licensed Hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers next week.

Drivers are being encouraged to install CCTV cameras and to drop off cash during their shift so they are carrying as little money as possible in their vehicle. They are also being advised to have a pre-arranged code word with their control room that can be used if a passenger becomes threatening.

Controllers will be told to avoid taking bookings from areas where incidents have happened in the past. Mike Thorpe, head of licensing at Preston Council, said: "Hackney drivers are more vulnerable because they just pick anyone up but it seems to be the private hire drivers who have been targeted."

Mick Rooney, who runs Ribbleton Taxis, said: "I tell my drivers not to get out of the vehicle and to take measures such as backing down cul-de-sacs so, if need be, they can get into first gear and get out."

Mark Selley, secretary of the Preston Hackney Carriage Association, said: "These are hard times and when times are hard, crimes of this sort of nature seem to rise."

Two men charged with two taxi robberies in Preston have been remanded in custody until January. Lee Muir, 20, of Burnslack Road, Ribbleton, and Kevin Murphy, 24, of Lady Acre, Bamber Bridge, Preston, were arrested on Friday, November 28, in connection with a robbery in Miller Road, Ribbleton.

They were also charged in relation to an incident in St Paul's Square, Preston, on Thursday, November 27, when they appeared at Preston Magistrates Court.