Possible changes to taxi signage in Crawleyhttp://www.crawleynews24.co.uk/possible ... n-crawley/New, removable signage for taxis in Crawley could make it harder for criminals to target them for break-ins.Crawley Borough Council last week announced it is consulting on changes to how licensed taxis display their signage in an effort to improve security.
Currently, private hire and hackney carriage vehicles are not allowed to use temporary signs such as magnetic door stickers. This is done to provide members of the public with peace of mind, knowing they are travelling risk-free in a licensed taxi. Permanent signage also prevents the risk of removable signage being stolen and affixed to a non-licensed vehicle.
However, after a number of private hire vehicles and hackney carriages were broken into earlier this year, the council’s Licensing Committee on Monday (11 June) voted unanimously to go out to independent consultation in order to establish public opinion on removable signage as part of efforts to improve security.
One incident, back in March, saw five Crawley taxis robbed in one night. Police had received nine separate reports of vehicles being broken into overnight around the Southgate area of Crawley between Thursday 15 March and Friday 16 March – five of which had money stolen from them.
The taxi trade is seeking removable signage in the hope that it will ensure that vehicles are not easily identifiable as licensed taxis and so prevent attempted break-ins.
Chair of the council’s Licensing Committee, Councillor Mike Pickett, said:
“We have a large number of hackney carriage and private hire vehicles here in Crawley and we want to ensure that both members of the public and drivers feel safe when hiring a taxi or out on a job.
“By consulting with key stakeholders and the public, we can make sure that we listen to everyone’s views and make the right decision.”