Taxi Driver Online

Bristol now has a ‘taxi cop’ to target crime and unlicensed drivers

PC Patrick Quinton is the first police officer working specifically on taxi services in Bristol


Bristol now has its own police officer targeting illegally operating taxi drivers in the city.

The “taxi cop” scheme was launched just over a month ago and PC Patrick Quinton has been working to tackle unlicensed taxis, cut down on crime and abuse, and ensure taxi ranks are being used properly.

Avon and Somerset Police are working with Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council on the initiative.

PC Quinton said: “My job is to ensure the safety of passengers, the public and taxi drivers and to help deliver an effective and quality transport system for Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

“I want to work with all hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers and operators to ensure residents and visitors receive an excellent service and to make sure they can operate in a competitive and fair industry.

“There will be no place for unlicensed drivers here, identifying and prosecuting them is a high priority for me.

“I looking forward to getting to know all the drivers and I would ask them to come and say hello when they see me out and about on my electric bike, motorbike or car.”

The decision to put a taxi cop in place came from discussions between the two councils, representatives of the taxi industry and Bristol-based charity Stand Against Racism and Equality (SARI).

The Taxi Forum and SARI came up with a list of issues they felt needed tackling to help encourage a fair and competitive taxi business in Bristol.

SARI’s strategic director Alex Raikes MBE said: “It is really exciting to see the taxi cop initiative become a reality for Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

“This was an innovative idea that trade reps we were working with told us was making a positive difference in Birmingham.

“SARI has been working hard to tackle the hate crime, general crime and abuse that taxi drivers face on a too frequent basis.

“We want local members of the public to treat taxi drivers with the respect they deserve for helping make sure we have smooth and safe transport across the region.

“Equally we are keen to ensure that any rogue drivers who are not abiding by rules and regulations are tackled effectively as they impact on the reputation of all drivers and compromise the livelihoods of local trade too.”

Birmingham’s taxi cop visited Bristol in November 2016 and the process was set in motion for Bristol get its own version shortly after.

Bristol City Council’s cabinet member for regulatory services, Councillor Fi Hance, said: “We do know that the taxi trade face real challenges in the current market.

“Our role as a licensing authority is to work with the trade to ensure that where possible we’re meeting those challenges and enforcing the regulations that keep taxi drivers and the public safe.”

Earlier this year around 100 taxi drivers protested outside the council offices over a number of grievances against the authority.

One of the concerns included ‘out-of-town’ drivers coming to Bristol for trade – an issue that will be targeted by the taxi cop.

source: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/brist ... get-176730

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