Taxi Driver Online

Cabs blacklist against abuse

ANGRY city taxi firms have joined forces to produce a master black-list of abusive and violent customers who are failing to stump up their fares.


The five cab companies have set up Taxiwatch to put the brakes on the increasing numbers of physical and verbal attacks, no-shows, punters who are not paying up, and seats being soiled.

Like Pubwatch, a scheme to ban troublemakers from all bars in Inverness city centre, the taxi firms will share their blacklists of names, numbers and addresses to prevent the problem punters from moving from one company to the next.

Peter Taylor, manager of City Taxis, contacted the other firms to orchestrate the get tough scheme as he foresees more trouble flaring from booze-fuelled customers during the festive season.

He said: "The other companies – DLM, Tartan, Central Highland and Inverness Taxis – were all keen to join so I have produced a black-list from the five firms. The list will be updated every Friday when I will contact the other companies to get their latest black-listed customers, and I will distribute that list."

He added: "I did this because I am fed up of drivers being assaulted or not paid. The manager's job is to protect the drivers' safety, and their income. Enough is enough."

Mr Taylor, who is based in Canal Road, has so far gathered a black-list of 65 troublesome customers from areas across the city.

Problems noted included one driver who was threatened with being stabbed and others who suffered abuse and assault.

Clients who order cars from more than one company, non-payers, hoax callers and those who have been sick in the vehicle are also listed.

He said the situation has worsened during the last two years. "People take us for granted. If they don't get one company because they're on a blacklist, they just go to another. The ultimate aim is for them to be banned from all taxis in Inverness.

"Alcohol and drugs is what's causing the main problems of drivers being abused, physically and verbally.

"Central Highland Taxis had two drivers assaulted in the last week, prompting me to get this Taxiwatch started."


Peter Taylor of City Taxis who has drawn up a list of banned customers. Gary Anthony

He hasn't been assaulted in the line of duty himself, but has suffered other hassles. One of his drivers however was the victim of a nasty attack.

Although drivers regularly use a panic-button on their sat-nav systems to transmit their vehicles' location in an emergency, he said the city's 500 cabbies have to constantly be their guard.

He said: "A year ago one of our drivers was at Inverness Business and Retail Park and when he asked for payment, the customer tried to take his money and a struggle ensued where he was cut in the neck and arm with a broken bottle. We reported it to police but we never heard what happened.

"People can turn very quickly, especially those on drugs. I have had non-payers and those who have been verbally abusive. Where people don't pay we have the right to put them out of the vehicle but non-payers are not going to tell you they don't have money halfway though a journey. This problem is really affecting drivers' pockets."

Chief Inspector Julian Innes, Northern Constabulary's Inverness Area Commander, said he had not heard of the Taxiwatch scheme, but that it sounded like a good idea the police would be willing to support.

He added: "From time to time, we do have reports of taxi frauds, where people are not paying.

"Looking forward, if we go into recession, it's likely this type of crime will increase."

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