Epsom taxi driver awarded 24p for helping police catch criminal
Epsom taxi driver Mark Salter was awarded just 24p compensation for helping to catch the man who walked off without paying his cab fare
A have-a-go taxi driver who went beyond the call of duty to catch a criminal has slammed the "injustice" system which awarded him just 24p in compensation.
Mark Salter, 25, who has been a cab driver in Epsom for three years, picked up five men outside Epsom station one night in May last year.
On the way he overheard them apparently discussing a robbery which had taken place in the town earlier that evening.
When he dropped the men off in New Malden, four ran off and one, Gary Smith, verbally threatened Mr Salter before walking away without paying the £24 fare.
But Mr Salter called the police on his mobile and then followed Smith to a pub, allowing police to arrest the man an hour later for evading the taxi fare. Smith was later also arrested in connection with the robbery.
After spending the rest of the evening making a police statement, Mr Salter filled out a compensation form for loss of earnings for £150 and the taxi fare.
But having heard nothing from the police, he called them two weeks ago and was "absolutely astonished" to find that Smith had been found guilty of evading the taxi fare and was given a two-week suspended sentence.
And then Mr Salter was told he had been awarded just 24p in compensation by the judge.
Mr Salter said: "Surely if someone steals money from you, they should pay back the money stolen?
"If you’re not going to give me the fare back, what’s going to make me even report it again?"
"Really, I did all the police work, the police have got it on their crime statistics, five people got a free taxi ride, and I got 24p.
"It is injustice. I feel completely let down."
Mr Salter said that while he has always liked to be "productive" in the detection of crime, he will no longer contact the police about potential incidents or unpaid taxi fares.
He said: "I will never do it again. I would probably drive criminals around in my cab all day and not report it.
"I have no time for the police anymore, I don’t feel protected by them.
"This incident has put me off studying for the Knowledge of London for taxi drivers.
"I would be dealing with an even greater number of members of the public not paying their taxi fares."
Epsom's neighbourhood inspector, Craig Knight, said he was "genuinely disappointed" with the 24p awarded to Mr Salter, but that the police has no say in the sanctions imposed by courts.
He said: "The fact that a person has come forward is always great and public-spirited and the right thing to do.
"The police are very keen to ensure victims receive visible justice. This is made more difficult when the court system is seen to be letting this down.
"I would encourage Mark to come forward again."
Inspector Knight said there was no blanket duty on the police to keep victims informed of court cases - particularly when the defendant pleads guilty and the victim is not required as a witness, as in this case.
Insp Knight said: "The routine practice for Surrey Police is that we ask the victim how often they want to be notified about the case."
He said this practice had been in place for the last 12 months.
Mark Salter, who has a degree in English Literature, was so incensed that he has written this poem about his experience:
The 24p Guy
A hard day's night at the taxi rank
With my hire light a-glare
But I was to be the fool on the hill
When some guys wouldn't pay the fare
I thought I'd do the decent thing
And see justice be delivered
But when I heard the outcome
Everything on me shivered
I got one of them arrested
And made him face the courts
At last some justice to be served
At least that's what I thought
He held his hands up fair and square
And guilty was his plea
"In that case you shall pay the man...
The sum of 24p"
Yes you read it right the first time
The sum of 24p
And the man who made that decision
Earns more than you or me
So three cheers for the justice system
#whatawasteoftime
And the next time I see a criminal
I'll be deaf dumb and blind
source: http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news ... _criminal/