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The word NO springs to mind !!!
http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=390
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Author:  Sussex [ Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:33 pm ]
Post subject:  The word NO springs to mind !!!

Dial-a-drug run

Taxi drivers in Weston say they are being used to ferry addicts to dealers' houses to buy the drugs that feed their habit.

'Drug runs', as many of the drivers now call them, are an increasing fact of life for many cabbies, with some saying they do them up to three times a week.

Other drivers report finding used syringes and half-smoked cannabis joints on the back seats of their cars.

Hackney cab driver, Chris Bird, said he regularly takes known junkies to drug dens.

"The problem is, that according to the rules governing hackney drivers, we are not allowed to refuse anyone a ride," he said.

"It's the same faces all the time. They generally pay but the problem is we have to carry the vermin.

"We notify the police where we take the druggies but nothing seems to happen." Drivers on the taxi rank at Waterloo Street talk of seeing suspected junkies appear at the top of the High Street unwrapping freshly stolen CDs or other goods.

One of the drivers, Gary Watts said: "They practically run around the corner ripping off the wrapping on the CD or whatever they've got hold of.

"Then, ten minutes later, after selling the knock off gear somewhere, they jump in the taxi and demand to be taken to addresses in the town that we know belong to dealers."

Cabbies said that they are regularly asked to go to Coleridge Road, on the Bournville estate, Mendip Road and Ashcombe Road.

They are also told to drive to telephone boxes, like the ones at the bottom of Milton Brow or in Ottawa Road, on the Coronation estate, where addicts urgently dial in their drug order before disappearing into a nearby property to seal the deal.

One taxi driver talked about how he is often told to park further down the street away from the dealers' houses.

He said: "Apparently, the dealers don't like people sitting in cars outside their houses because it scares customers off and is bad for business.

"Some of the young ones take you into their confidence and actually tell you they are going to a house to score."

Concerned cabbie, John Johnson, feels the police and taxi drivers should work more closely.

He said: "I think the town, police and taxi drivers would benefit if there were more of a partnership. At the moment I wouldn't like to be in trouble and dial 999."

Weston-based Sgt Dave Holtby said: "The police would welcome any partnership. If the taxi drivers want to do it, we would be happy to discuss it.

"We know taxis have been used for drug runs but it's down to the drivers to report any incidents, which they can do anonymously through Crimestoppers.

"If we don't receive information we can't act upon it.

"If we do receive information, it forms part of a bigger picture and when the time is right we act upon it.

"Where taxi drivers think they're going to a drug address they have every right not to take the passenger. If they are not sure they need to use their own judgement and report any suspicions to the police."

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I wonder how many drivers have lost their licenses for refusing to carry drug scum. :?

I expect about the same number, as the amount of toes Long John Silver has on his wooden leg. :wink:

Author:  aitch [ Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:34 pm ]
Post subject: 

:shock: duz the above not come under aiding & abetting & fancy letting the dopes smoke in your motor

Author:  Guest [ Tue Feb 24, 2004 8:04 pm ]
Post subject: 

aitch wrote:
:shock: duz the above not come under aiding & abetting & fancy letting the dopes smoke in your motor


thats right aitch,

smoking in taxis, absolutely disgraceful :shock:

seems strange idea to let a passenger out of a cab to go and rob something, trusting the same people to cme back and pay the fare?

Hmmm headline grabbing news story, designed to scare the [edited by admin] out of the public, would have thought that the drivers involved would have perhaps permitted the police to look into it before the press got the story.

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