Edinburgh children's Taxi Outing set to be scrapped due to police escort rule changehttps://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ ... ge-8639735
This year’s Edinburgh Taxi Drivers Outing is set to be cancelled due to a national policy change which will prevent police from escorting the procession.
Organisers of the event, which has been an annual fixture since the 1940s, said they have been informed of a policy change from the National Police Chiefs Council which means that police officers will no longer be able to escort the event which takes place annually in Edinburgh and East Lothian.
The popular event is a staple on the Edinburgh calendar and is funded by Edinburgh taxi drivers who decorate their black cabs and provide a memorable day out for children with additional needs, life-limiting conditions and terminal illnesses.
It is understood that Police Scotland had offered to provide “static support” along Princes Street, the Royal Mile, Holyrood Park and Meadowbank. But organisers said that the procession would be stuck in general traffic throughout the rest of the route.
Keith J Bell, secretary of the Edinburgh Taxi Outing Committee, said: “Given that it takes approximately six minutes for the convoy to pass a static point, it would take about 10 minutes for us all to navigate the first set of lights at Western Corner.
“When we get to Roseburn, the inside lane will be blocked due to parked vehicles and if the first couple of vehicles are waiting to turn right towards Murrayfield Stadium, you might manage three to four vehicles progressing towards Haymarket per green light.”
Mr Bell added that the children for whom the event is put on would “not manage to cope with sitting stationary for who knows how long”.
He said that the committee has therefore “reluctantly decided” to cancel this year’s outing.
He said: “The children participating on the Outing have a variety of needs and some will not manage to cope with sitting stationary for who knows how long waiting for the taxis at the back to catch up so, as our number one priority has been, and always will be the comfort and safety of the children, we have reluctantly decided to cancel this year's Outing.”
The parade was first held in 1947 and has been held annually in the years since - except from in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic. It returned to much fanfare in 2022, and has been held ever since.
Taxis draped in balloons drive participating children and their families through the city where passers-by soaked up the festive atmosphere as well as getting literally soaked by water pistols fired from the passing cabs.
Mr Bell said that the Outing has received support from both City of Edinburgh Council and Police Scotland. He called the move to remove support “the law of unintended consequences”.
He added: “I'm pretty sure that when the National Police Chief's Council were discussing the creation of their policy, they wouldn't have known about the Edinburgh Taxi Outing, as the lead of the organisation is the Chief Constable of Cheshire, but the result of their policy is that an event for children with additional needs that has been in force since 1947 is now no more.
“I will be encouraging anyone who feels so motivated to contact their MPs, MSPs and councillors to see whether they can obtain persuade the NPCC to grant an exemption from their policy for the Outing.”
Chief Inspector Craig Rogerson, of Police Scotland, said: “I have spoken with the event organisers and provided clarity regarding the operational considerations associated with this year’s event. We remain committed to working constructively with the organising committee and other key delivery partners to explore alternative options that would allow the event to proceed safely.”
City of Edinburgh Council and the National Police Chiefs' Council have been contacted for comment.
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