Taxi Driver Online

Security guards patrol Brighton taxi ranks

Four security guards are patrolling city centre taxi ranks in Brighton between midnight and 4am on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The scheme - funded by a Government grant - has been welcomed by taxi drivers, police and councillors as the latest step in controlling late-night disorder in the city.

Taxi marshalls have been trialled before but public funding has never been available to make them permanent. The latest scheme, made possible by a £5,000 Home Office grant designed to deal with alcohol-related disorder, is expected to run until April.

Unite Security is providing the four guards to patrol West Street and East Street taxi ranks. They are being briefed to keep queues orderly, stop people too drunk to travel from getting in cabs and stop people carrying food and drink on board.

Andy Charalambous, vice-chairman of Brighton and Hove Streamline taxis, said: “We believe taxi marshalls benefit everyone. We would like to see marshalls, certainly on the busy rinks in the early hours of the morning, permanently.”

Inspector Paul Betts said: "The use of taxi marshalls is a real benefit for many people out at night in Brighton and Hove. “The scheme will ensure people can obtain licensed taxis safely and orderly in the city centre.

“It will be particularly beneficial over the busy Christmas and New Year period and will assist us in preventing crime and disorder and keeping people safe."

The marshalls are being equipped with NightSafe radios to link them up to police CCTV operators, police officers and other security firms. They are also being given the power to issue “yellow cards” for antisocial behaviour - which can lead to people being banned from the city centre.

Councillor Dee Simson, cabinet member for community safety, said: "This is another good example of how partnership working is helping to keep people safe while they are out enjoying themselves over the Christmas and New Year.

“It fits perfectly with the way we work together to manage the night-time economy, for which we were awarded Beacon status earlier this year, and with our campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol amongst young people."

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