Taxi Driver Online

Not entirely clear how the vehicle was 'acting like a taxi', other than it being stationary, and, er, having people in it. Two people in it


University of Bristol student 'scared' after getting into vehicle 'acting' like a taxi

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bris ... er-5988428

"I could have been kidnapped or sex-trafficked"

A first-year student at the University of Bristol felt 'nervous and scared' after getting into a vehicle which was 'acting' like a taxi.

The student said she had been at a relative's house in Southville and had booked a taxi to go back to her Wills Hall residence.

But when the woman got into the back of the car, which was parked on Merrywood Road, she realised there were two men sat in the front and that there was no licence on show as there usually is.

She then asked if the driver could stop at an ATM so she could get some cash out, before jumping out and making her own way home.

"They didn't say anything about it not being my taxi," said the 20-year-old, who didn't want to be named. "I was very nervous and scared.

"I was very confused and the thing that worried me the most is the fact that they did not say they were not a taxi. You think, where would they have taken me?

"I thought that was the taxi, they were acting like one - they were playing along, it was very strange.

"I am just really glad that I was able to get out of the car and they had not locked the door.

"I was so relived, it was not nice."

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that it received a call from a woman who had got into a car which she believed to be a taxi she had ordered shortly beforehand at 11.41pm last Thursday (September 23).

The force said that, after getting into the car and speaking with two male occupants, she realised something wasn’t right and quickly got out.

The student has warned others to be careful before getting into a vehicle, and to let friends and family know they are taking a taxi.

She continued: "Anything could have happened. I could have been kidnapped or sex-trafficked - they could have done anything to me.

"My mind was racing with all these scenarios of what could have happened.

"It was a gut instinct to get out."

The University of Bristol has said it was 'concerned' to hear about the incident, adding it was not aware of any other similar occurrences, but urged students to be vigilant and to report anything unusual or suspicious to the authorities.

A spokesperson for the University of Bristol said: “We were concerned to hear about this incident.

"We can confirm that the student reported this to Security Services and that the matter is now being handled by the police.

“We are not aware of any other similar occurrences however we do urge students to be vigilant and to report anything unusual or suspicious to the authorities.”

There was also this from Salisbury yesterday. Didn't bother with it then, but it's a broadly similar incident, although certainly sounds more sinister.

But not clear whether it's an actual fake driver, or just some opportunist boy racer type or similar, who's just sitting around and someone just happens to get in, and he takes advantage


Man posed as taxi driver in Salisbury

https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news ... salisbury/

AN APPEAL has been launched after a "suspicious incident" in Salisbury where a man was posing as a taxi driver.

Police say the incident happened in the early hours of Saturday September 11 and a woman got into a silver car in Millstream Approach believing it was a taxi she had booked with a local firm.

The driver of the car then behaved in an inappropriate way, making sexual comments and touching the woman on her leg.

She told him to stop the vehicle and got out near to St Mark’s Roundabout, phoning a family member to pick her up.

PC Mark Douglas, from the Salisbury Area Community Policing Team, said: “Thankfully the woman wasn’t injured in any way, but she was left feeling very uncomfortable and afraid by the way this man was acting.

“We have made enquiries locally and we do not believe the suspect was a legitimate taxi driver, but was instead acting in an opportunistic way to try to get a woman into his car.

“This is a very worrying incident and we would urge anyone who can assist with our enquiries to get in touch. We would also like to hear from anyone else who believes they may have been approached in a similar way by this man.”

The man is described as possibly Eastern European, and of a large build, and he was driving a silver saloon car.

PC Douglas added: “We want everyone to feel safe in Salisbury, particularly those who are out visiting our restaurants, bars and clubs on a night out.

“Please be reassured that we have a visible policing presence in the city, and we carry out regular, proactive patrols to keep our night-time economy safe.”

Project Vigilant launched in Wiltshire earlier this month which aims to ensure people feel safe on nights out across the county.

Anyone who can assist with this investigation, including anyone who might have been driving at that time of the morning and may have dash cam footage, should call PC Douglas on 101, quoting crime reference 54210088622.

Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Some cynicism about the Bristol incident in the comments, including this illuminating contribution. I'm sure there's an essential truth in here. Somewhere:

So they didn't lock the doors.

They didn't try on any funny business.

They stopped and let the lady out when she requested they do.

They didn't charge her a penny.

They didn't entice her into the car.

Maybe they were just students helping out a fellow student who was too pi**ed to remember.

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IDFIMH

so Brizzle is almost as incomprehensible in written form as spoken then !

Mind you I still only rate it as third worst to understand regional accent

second to Broad Narfark (pun intended)

which is very slightly less incomprehensible as Glasgey !

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Taxis Are Public Transport too

Join the campaign to get April fools jokes banned for 364 days a year !

unlikely as I doubt any self respecting student would be sober enough to drive at that time of night

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Taxis Are Public Transport too

Join the campaign to get April fools jokes banned for 364 days a year !