Taxi Driver Online

Terrified taxi drivers want cameras in cabs


TERRIFIED taxi drivers have called on the council to pay for security cameras in cars after a vicious assault.
Cab drivers face nightly abuse from drunken passengers and racist thugs, they claim.

Last week Abid Fazel, 34, was beaten with metal bars by a gang in Queensbury. The two men, who were picked up outside the Stag's Head pub, threatened to kidnap the father-of-four and demand a £125,000 ransom from his family.

The attack sent shockwaves through the private hire community.

One driver from A1 Ziggy's, who was too afraid to be named, said: "In the current climate we are always wary.

"The drivers would be happier if they got some kind of protection like they do in bigger cities. In some areas the council, businesses and drivers get together and put some money towards cameras in cars. And we want other deterrents like personal alarms.

"I would like to see a meeting with the council and the police but, unlike in bigger cities, our council refuses to see the bigger picture."

The driver said that war in Iraq and Afghanistan had led to an increase in racist abuse.

"We had a phone call where a man said one of our drivers was going to be beaten up and set on fire that night. It is a scary environment to work in.

"We need funding for cameras before someone gets killed. It is no good saying after the event that something should have been done," he said.

Many drivers are sceptical that any help will be offered.

Councillor Grenville Horsfall (Con, Skircoat) chairman of the licensing committee, said: "We have told drivers that their taxis are their business premises. If you have a shop what you do inside is your problem. It is not anybody else's, the council or otherwise. What they do in their business premises is up to them."

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

What a nice caring attitude

I suggest the councillor needs a crash course in diplomacy.

I would also suggest that the councillor should have put it this way;

Taxi drivers do a valuable job serving the people of our community at all times of the day and night, its only right they carry out their work in a decent working environment without intimidation. Although we cannot possibly afford to finance safety equipment, we will discuss the various avenues available in due course.

FFS, this guy is chair of licensing?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Apart from the councillors comments at least it would appear that this council has no objections to installing CCTV and perhpas other safety measures? This is further than other councils are prepared to go because many won't even give you permission to install your own authorised CCTV equipment.

This is one of the most fundemetal priorities the trade should be concentrating on, for both Taxi and private hire.

Regards

JD

I dont disagree with you JD, its obviously important people can go to work and feel comfortable and safe.

Why should anyone need to ask permission in the first place? I didnt

However, the comments of this councillor are in my opinion given without any thought whatsoever, indeed, there is a distinct lack of tact.

regards

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I agree about the tact but some councillors have tact and some are obviously void of any tact, I suppose this is one such case were the latter applies.

Regards

JD

There are a few councils that have put money into CCTV for taxi/PH vehicles.

But it is a two way thing, operators should be doing their bit by screening calls a bit better than they do i.e. no more calls from Joe waiting on the corner, and blanking scum pubs.

In my opinion the fewer pub jobs a firm does, the better a firm it is to work for.

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IDFIMH

You're not wrong Sussex, but even those that cannot afford funding should perhaps be able to point the trade in the right direction for possible funding and support the use of personal security and crime prevention?

Indeed, they seem to find funding for taxi marshalls, which at the end of the day is money spent and gone, whereas cameras and an interest in security will last a damn side longer.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Why do some councils allow cameras and some don't, Cap?

Regards

JD

I think you want me to say because there 'tin pot' dictatorships hell bent on retaining control over an industry they have little understanding of and even littlier interest in, except that it suits their meglomaniac needs in controlling a person's existance?

Or words to that effect

regards

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Bradford and youve got the Tory Vermin, very clearly demonstrating their vileness. Tell me how does a working class town allow these scum in???
Why havnt the local Ass sorted this DOG out, now is your chance elections in May. If it comes to it why not run an independent against him[a cab driver] Keep being told keep politics out of it, here is a PERFECT demonstration what that peurile policy achieves.
DECISIONS ARE TAKEN BY THOSE THAT TURN UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

because the labour party has pricks like you in.

So now you live in Bradford. you say your a GMB member and want out so send me your details and your out. happy now???????????
ORGANISE EDUCATE AGITATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

Ding Ding. Round one . . .

Sussex wrote;
.

I agree 100%, as a controller, if a job sounds iffy, I won't send a car, but I can't be right all the time.
I do not think it is the council's job to pay for cctv, but if a driver want's it, the council should not prevent it.

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stressed controller!!!

I agree entirely. I think the whole of the Taxi trades should start exerting more pressure on MP's and the DfT to come up with a better solution than the one advocated in the DfT best practice.

Regards

JD