Taxi Driver Online

Rossendale taxi drivers demand action after complaints of assaults

ROSSENDALE taxi drivers are calling on the police to protect them complaints of passenger violence increase. The Chairman of Rossendale Taxi Association Glen Bulcock said many taxi drivers have such little faith that the police will respond to incidents they have stopped reporting them.

Mr Bulcock said: “The taxi association held a meeting in September with the police. “Out of the 100 taxi drivers that turned up around 75 per cent of them had suffered from physical or verbal abuse. “On Saturday night a 60-year-old driver was assaulted over a £3.50 fare.

“He had picked up a passenger in Bacup town centre and took him to Ribble Street, Bacup and when the meter read £3.50 the passenger got angry and smashed the windscreen with a single punch. “The driver reported the incident to the our operator at GB Taxis and the police were called but they said they would not be able to come and deal with the incident until 10am Monday morning.”

Four assaults on taxi drivers in Bacup have been reported since January. Mr Bulcock said: “It is getting so difficult to find new drivers, as they start, do one weekend, get physically abused and quit.

“We just want the police to protect us and make it clear to passengers they will not tolerate them abusing us. Other public servants like train drivers and bus drivers are protected so why shouldn’t we be, we are also providing a service. “Many drivers don’t even bother reporting incidents anymore.”

Ch Insp Jeff Brown said: “I would urge taxi drivers or any victims of assault to report the matter to police straight away as we are only aware of, and can only deal with, what is reported to us. "Whilst the police and council will do all they can to tackle any problems brought to their attention, if taxi drivers do feel unsafe, the drivers themselves have a responsibility and role to play. For example the use of camera equipment in cabs has been used to great success elsewhere in the country.”

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IDFIMH

Nail right on the head.

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IDFIMH