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Taxi drivers punched, bruised and bloodied in Leeds as police crackdown on racist attacks

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds ... d-14685533

British Transport Police has launched a new scheme called Taxi Watch in response to physical and verbal attacks on drivers in Leeds

Police are attempting to crackdown on racially and religiously motivated attacks against taxi drivers in Leeds.

British Transport Police officers will patrol taxi ranks outside Leeds station at times when attacks often happen and hold regular meetings with drivers to discuss any issues as part of their new scheme called Taxi Watch.

The force says it is aiming to build better relationships with taxi drivers and make it very clear that people who attack those drivers will be prosecuted.

The scheme was launched in response to a high number of physical and verbal assaults on drivers in the city.

There have been 15 attacks outside Leeds station alone since January 2017 and in a recent survey almost 70 per cent of drivers said they had been threatened or attacked.

Police say many of these assaults are racially and religiously motivated but that drivers are reluctant to report these crimes to police, especially if they are the victim.

In one incident, a man was being verbally abusive and decided to kick the side of a taxi when the driver refused to give him a ride because he already had a passenger in the car. When the driver got out the man then hit him in the face.

And in January a man hurled racist abuse at a taxi driver who asked him to join the back of the queue and then kicked his wing mirror off. When the driver got out, the man punched him in the face and left him with a bloody nose, bruising and swelling.

Chief inspector Lorna McEwan, from British Transport Police, said: “Since January 2017 we have recorded 15 offences against drivers at the station, that’s on average one a month which is just not acceptable.

“We have also surveyed drivers who use the station which shockingly revealed that 69 per cent said they have been threatened or attacked, 53 per cent of these incidents took place at night or on a weekend.

“This research clearly shows that our figures don’t match up and that taxi drivers are reluctant to report crimes to the police, especially if they are victims – we hope that this scheme will increase confidence and encourage them to contact us.

“We already have a great working relationship with the taxi drivers who use the station but this scheme is about going that one step further.

"We want to reinforce the message that we will take a tough stance against anyone who commits a crime against them, investigate every offence and provide them with full support.

“Taxi drivers also provide extra eyes and ears at the station and report any suspicious activity or incidents to us which is great and we hope that the scheme will develop these links further."

British Transport Police will be working with Network Rail, which runs Leeds station, and driver representatives from Unite the Union to implement the scheme.

Vicki Beadle, community safety manager at Network Rail, said: “It’s completely unacceptable for anyone to face violence or aggression at Leeds station, whether that’s taxi drivers, passengers or station workers and we work incredibly closely with British Transport Police to tackle this.

“This new scheme with both British Transport Police and Unite the Union will further build on this and will help to create a nicer environment for all station users.”

There have been 15 attacks outside Leeds station alone since January 2017 and in a recent survey almost 70 per cent of drivers said they had been threatened or attacked.

that is a very high percentage now I know all of will have had some abuse off a drunk at some point in our careers but this sounds to me like one or two individuals targeting drivers on a regular basis

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