Taxi driver 'kicked in head and racially abused' during robbery at Shipley Stationhttp://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... y-station/A CABBIE was kicked in the head while being racially abused and robbed at a train station.The violent incident took place at Shipley Rail Station, and now British Transport Police are appealing to the public to help track down those responsible.
The attackers took money and a phone from the driver during the robbery, which took place at 8.40pm on Tuesday, August 7.
Police have now released images of four people they want to speak to in relation to the attack.
A British Transport Police spokesman said: “Officers would like to speak to the boys shown in these CCTV images as they believe they may have information which could help the investigation.
Shipley MP Philip Davies said: “It’s horrific, completely unacceptable and disgusting to be perfectly honest. I hope the British Transport Police will make a point of focusing on Shipley Station around those times to make sure it’s safe and the perpetrators are brought to justice. It’s a shame to Shipley.”
He added: “Northern Rail, Network Rail and the British Transport Police should be working together so it’s safe for taxis to operate there. I hope they get together and find out what can be done to make it safer.
“We can’t stand aside and allow this behaviour to go unchecked and it needs to be dealt with quickly.”
Asif Shah, one of Shipley Central’s operation managers, said this isn’t an isolated incident.
He said the latest incident did not involve one of his company's drivers, but added that a similar thing happened to one of his drivers only two months ago.
He explained how three or four lads tried to open the doors of the taxi at Shipley Station but thankfully the driver, as per company policy, had his doors locked and managed to get into first gear and drive off.
Mr Shah said: “At the end of the day, our drivers do a brilliant job - when firefighters are attacked we praise them - we also provide an important public service.”
Mr Shah said that often perpetrators will ring multiple taxi firms at the same time and try to attack them as they come and go.
He said: “We have 200 drivers - there’s a protocol for an emergency. We have a button our drivers can press which connects back to the office. Everything stops and the nearest driver in the area will go an assist the distressed party.”
Mr Shah said more needs to be done to allow incidents to be linked together. Six months ago, he said he was among a number of other taxi bosses who wrote to the council putting forward the idea of a dedicated “taxi cop” - as is the case in Bristol - who would be aware of all goings on and could link cases. He said: “Currently, there’s no way of tying them together.”
“Anyone with information should call BTP on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, with reference 625 of 7 August. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
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