Taxi Driver Online

Taxi Marshals are now becoming the norm and are no longer newsworthy unless there is an additional element attached to the service such as drivers having to pay for them. This is probably the last story I'm going to post on the general introduction of Marshals.
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The Sentinel (Stoke)

December 1, 2006 Friday

HEADLINE: Taxi marshal plan to cool trouble-spots

BYLINE: Richard Ault

Revellers looking to get home safely after a festive night out in Newcastle are being encouraged to let taxi marshals give them a helping hand.

They will be on duty in Hassell Street on Friday and Saturday nights throughout December, and police say their role will grow in importance from today when a temporary traffic order comes into effect.

The six-month experiment will prevent cars accessing the bottom end of High Street, near Brassingtons, from the Grosvenor roundabout on the A34 after 11pm on Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays.

The area has become a flash-point for violence in the town centre as people empty out of nightspots in the early hours of the morning and struggle to get taxis. Chief Inspector Martin Evans said: "Anyone who wants to get home safely should go to the taxi marshal area near the Revolution bar in Hassell Street.

"It is the easiest and safest way to ensure a night out ends with you safely back at your door." Officers using headcams, miniature cameras inside a helmet, will patrol the area where people are waiting for cabs to provide protection from trouble makers.

But Mike Fallows, licensee of Brassingtons, believes the new traffic restrictions will create more trouble. He said: "Most people in the town end up at the bottom end of High Street at the end of the night, and that's where the cabs should be.

"Problems start when people are hanging around after a night out." Police are relying on taxi marshals, who guide revellers to taxis, to help bring violence down this year. Anyone who wants a taxi will inform a marshal. They then queue while the marshal finds a licensed Hackney cab. If there are no Hackney cabs available, the marshal will ring for a private hire car.

Colin Parr, business crime officer for Newcastle Safer Communities Partnership, said: "The marshals are tried and tested and the system gets more than 45,000 passengers a year back to their homes safe and sound."
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Two things.

First, who pays?

Second, I wonder whether this jusn't isn't another insidious increase in council's big brother approach. We should all remember they are building up their own "police" force. Factor in environmental wardens, parking wardens &etc., all dishing out summary punishments, all according to the diktat of councils.

Snooping in bins, chasing guys into pubs who have dropped a cigarette butt and fining them, responding to tell tales about smoking in pubs. Big borther is coming to a city or town near you. In fact it is YOUR city or town.

We let this continue unopposed at our peril.