Taxi Driver Online

Minicab firms threaten to boycott housing estate after drivers attacked




Some minicab firms have threatened to boycott a Bradford housing estate after three drivers were threatened by passengers, one with a knife, in the space of a few hours.

Bosses of several companies will hold an urgent meeting this week to discuss the regular violence faced by their drivers in Ravenscliffe, with one saying no-one should risk their life for the sake of a few pounds.

Tanveer Hussain, who works for Eccleshill Premier Cars and lives in Killinghall Road, had a kitchen knife pulled on him by one of a group of four passengers he had driven to the estate at 2.45am on Saturday.

After dropping off the group – three men and a woman – at a post office cash machine, Mr Hussain saw one of the men drop and pick up a 7in blade before pointing it at him and demanding he hand over everything he had.

Mr Hussain got out of his cab, grabbed hold of the knife and scuffled with the man causing the two other men to get involved, one punching him and knocking him to the floor.

He ran off, pursued by his attackers, who fled when they saw he had come across a couple in the street who had called police for him.

When Mr Hussain returned to his cab, he found his satellite navigation system and mobile phone had been stolen.

A few minutes after the robbery, police received reports of a customer becoming aggressive in an argument over a cab fare in the same area, and a third report, at 3.19am, of a man attacking the window of another cab with a hammer before the driver managed to drive off.

Coupled with similar violent attacks in recent months, and drivers claiming they are pelted with rocks and eggs by children in the early evening, one cab boss has said that unless the situation is brought under control, they will have to stop services in the area.

Father-of-four Mr Hussain said: “We work for our families, going out in the early morning for people who need a driver. I work hard for my family, and we don’t need to go through situations like this.”

He said the group were in their mid-20s and the woman and two men were white and a third man was mixed race.

Wajid Jahangir, owner of the Eccleshill Premier Cars, said: “We’re just going to stop sending taxis. We can’t risk our drivers’ lives.

“This is going to effect other people in the area, including older people or people who need taxis to get to hospital, but we just can’t take the risk.”

Police have urged anyone with information about the attacks to contact 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... ?ref=var_0

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Addison Lee boycotts the NW10 postcode.

Perhaps Griffin doesn't realise lots more decent people live there than the minority of scumbags?

Ah well. Yet more for me.

Four now arrested over attack on Ravenscliffe taxi driver



Three men and a woman have been arrested by police investigating an attack on a cab driver who had a knife pulled on him on a Bradford housing estate.

The incident, early last Saturday, was one of three in the Ravenscliffe area involving violence to cab drivers in a matter of hours.

Minicab firms in the area have since threatened to stop sending cars to the area until more is done to ensure the safety of their drivers.

Police have said they will step up patrols if necessary, and are offering safety advice to the companies.

A woman, 36, and a man, 20, were arrested earlier this week in connection with the alleged knife incident, which occurred at about 2.45am in Roundwood Avenue. Police today arrested two further men, aged 20 and 25.

Detective Inspector Richard Partis said: “We are aware of a number of incidents reported over the last year in the Ravenscliffe area in which taxi drivers have been the target of attacks.

"We take any reports of violence extremely seriously and will relentlessly pursue anyone involved in such intimidating behaviour.”

Cab firms in the BD2 area will meet on Monday to decide whether to boycott calls to Ravenscliffe.

Bradford East Liberal Democrat MP David Ward said: “I work quite closely with taxi firms and will be in Bradford on Monday to speak to them about this. I pay tribute to taxi drivers – it can be a dangerous

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... xi_driver/

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Well that should deflect the knives.

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IDFIMH

Bradford cab firms vow to boycott Ravenscliffe if another driver is attacked





Local cab companies have issued a final warning that they will stop sending vehicles to the Ravenscliffe estate if another of their drivers is attacked there.

Yesterday representatives from eight private hire companies serving the BD2 area decided to hold off on a possible boycott of the estate over Christmas and the New Year. But they did warn that one is imminent if more is not done to make life safer for drivers.

MP David Ward and local councillors also attended the meeting at the headquarters of Eccleshill Premier Cars, where they heard that many drivers were afraid of travelling to the area at night.

Last Saturday there were three attacks on taxi drivers in the space of a few hours. Four people have been arrested for one incident.

Drivers say this was not just an isolated night of violence and that their vehicles are regularly pelted with stones by young people.

Wajid Rafiq, owner of Eccleshill Premier Cars, said: “To be honest it’s getting scary for my drivers and other firm’s drivers. This wasn’t just a one-off, this has been happening for years. Drivers hear what happened last Saturday and they won’t want to go to that area. I feel sorry for them, it’s not safe.

“We need more police in that area. Kids are throwing stones at cars every day. Why would anyone want to go there if they know they are likely to get their windows smashed? The parents are obviously not telling their kids that this is wrong. If this happens again we boycott Ravenscliffe.”

Companies complained that reports to police had not been followed up and that very little had been done by Bradford Council to deal with violence.

Ilyas Hussain, of Power Cars, said that 99 per cent of his customers were from Ravenscliffe, and so a boycott would severely harm his trade.

Councillor Mohammed Shafiq said: “It is sad that we are sat here today to discuss the safety of our private hire drivers when they are doing a wonderful job.

“I am extremely concerned that another attack might take place and that we won’t be hearing that someone has been hurt, but that his life has been lost. Your priority must be the safety of your drivers. It is just a minority of people who put your lives at risk.”

The group agreed to hold a meeting with the local community to raise their concerns, and will shortly be sending out leaflets to householders in Ravenscliffe saying a boycott is inevitable if violence continues.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... _attacked/

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin