We still need protection, say cabbies
Drivers get attacked on a regular basis, but most of the time they just keep quiet and carry on working because rarely is anything done "
Tajiur Rahman, Bedford Hackney Carriage Association
Cab drivers say that attacks are a common occurence, but go unreported because the authorities do not take action
Attacks on cab drivers in Bedford are a common occurence but go unreported because the authorities do not take action, according to one of the town's taxi firms.
Last week a driver was hospitalised following a "ferocious" robbery by four men armed with an iron bar, in Kimble Drive, almost a year after a similar incident.
In November 2008, the Times & Citizen reported that disgruntled drivers marched to Greyfriars Police Station to demand more protection from customer abuse.
But drivers say since then little has changed.
A spokesman for a private car hire firm in the town centre told this newspaper: "Nothing has changed since we asked for more security.
"The only thing that I can recall is that we have been given panic alarms, which is pointless.
"Who can hear the panic alarm in a quiet village somewhere in the middle of the night with all your windows closed?"
Tajiur Rahman, Bedford Hackney Carriage Association secretary, said: "Drivers get attacked on a regular basis, but most of the time they just keep quiet and carry on working because rarely is anything done."
It is thought that there are between 1,100 cars and 1,600 licensed drivers in the Borough, with each car paying around £236 a year and each driver paying around £90 a year for a licence.
Mr Rahman is trying to get a breakdown of where and how the money is spent.
He said: "We pay almost half a million pounds a year to the council, but we get nothing in return.
"We would suggest CCTV cameras and a screen behind the drivers' seats, because most of the attacks happen from behind."
Self-defence is also a closed avenue, according to Mr Rahman.
He added: "Another problem is that as soon as we try to defend ourselves we land in trouble.
"A few months ago a driver tried to restrain a woman
who attacked him and now he finds himself suspended, and incidents such as these are not isolated.
"If you look at other public service sectors like bus drivers, GPs and hospitals, zero tolerance is shown to abuse, but with us it's another story."
But a spokesman for Bedford Borough Council, defended
the charges to cab companies.
He told this newspaper: "Vehicle owners are required to pay a fee of £236 for their licence, which is used for the checks to be carried out and the licence to be processed.
"The alternative to this would be for taxpayers to pick up these costs."
