Another 'Zombie apocalypse'
This is a newly published article on the Grimsby Live website, but obviously much of this isn't new at all. It's essentially based on an extended quote from the female office member who was featured in the national press recently.
'It's like the Zombie apocalypse' - Grimsby taxi office on growing trouble on streetshttps://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news ... by-6073574The taxi office says cars are vandalised and drivers abused
Image: GNP/Grimsby LiveA Grimsby taxi office has likened the night time scene of Grimsby and Cleethorpes to that of a 'zombie apocalypse'.
They said people continuously vandalise their cabs and assault their drivers. It's being reported that punters are more violent than ever before after finally being allowed to return to pubs and clubs after lockdown.
Sadly, the pandemic saw many taxi drivers switch to becoming delivery drivers and some have been reluctant to return. Unfortunately, this has led to a large shortage of drivers, especially on a night time.
Read more real life stories from people in Grimsby and Cleethorpes here
With large queues and angry customers, this has led to some drivers being abused and cars being vandalised by angry customers.
Cerys Edwards, 23, works as a night shift manager for Grimsby's Coxon's Cars and has described the situation as being like a 'zombie apocalypse'.
She said: "“We‘ve had cars vandalised and I’ve had my office window spat at and punched.
“I’ve been called all the names under the sun just because we’re telling them how long the wait is going to be.
"“We’ve got a lot of this since the shortage of drivers. And people are drinking harder. It’s like the zombie apocalypse – if they’re not staggering everywhere, they’re angry and violent.”
Image: Chris Frear/Grimsby LiveShe added: "We also get our officers targeted by angry punters, it isn't just the drivers and their cars sadly.
"We put up a sign saying the office is closed when we've run out of cabs, but people have been vandalising that out of anger.
"I've had people kick it, spit on it and others punch it through.
"I've even had people try and bash the office door in, some have threatened to set the office on fire and others have urinated up against it.
"The main abuse comes from those who are either drunk, on drugs and often both.
"Some days can be lovely with incredibly understanding customers and then one customer can come along and ruin the entire thing."
Cerys said all this started at the end of lockdown when people started returning to pubs and bars and a number of drivers didn't return as they got new jobs as delivery drivers.
She explained: "People try to get a taxi from Grimsby train station and if there are none they walk round to the office and give us verbal abuse for no cars being available.
"From midnight until about 2am is the worst time for any form of abuse to come through."
Cerys said incidents and abuse like this often make her want to quit and often says to her partner: "Why do I bother?' At first, I became very upset by the comments and was often reduced to tears.
"These days I have a thicker skin, but it's really difficult dealing with all the nasty comments, vandalism and abuse."
Image: Cambridge News/Grimsby Live
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