Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver 'swore' when told to move for PM

A BOURNEMOUTH taxi driver who allegedly swore at a police officer when asked to move his car to make way for Prime Minister Gordon Brown has had his licence suspended for seven days.

PC Ian Curtis was on duty outside the Royal Bath Hotel during the Labour Party conference when cabbie Jonathan Watts drew up. Mr Curtis told the council's licensing board the driver had ignored his signal to continue further down Bath Road: "I asked him not to stop the vehicle again in that area or I would report him. That's when he swore at me.

"My role was to prevent any vehicles from stopping due to the impending arrival of the Prime Minister's convoy. "Some drivers were being very co-operative. Mr Watts was the only one that became abusive. "For that language to be directed towards a police officer in uniform is unacceptable, especially while other members of the public were present."

Mr Watts was not at the hearing, but in a written statement, he said: "I went to what I believed to be the required drop zone as instructed by the police."

He said he was giving his passenger a receipt and change when the officer told him to move on. "I didn't want to move the cab in case my passenger was about to alight. When asked to move on again barely seconds later, I replied: Please let me drop off'.

"To this the officer replied: I've got your number and I'm reporting you'." He added: "The officer was obviously stressed out and not having a good day."

Panel chairman Cllr Stephen Chappell said: "We feel that the taxi driver concerned failed to behave in a civil and orderly fashion and failed to take notice of instruction from a police officer in uniform on a very important occasion."

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IDFIMH

This mans punishment is disproportionate to the alleged offence. What would Joe Public have got for the same situation, appeal springs to mind.

Is it also an offence not to stop when your passenger says to do so, unless of course it is,red lights, zig zags and other obvious warning signs.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

I'm against councillors acting as judge and jury and handing out punishment like a court of law, this incident just confirms my opinion of such a practice but nothing surprises me with councillors.

Regards

JD

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I remeber having a long conversation about a similar situation with our local police in that incident iIwas subjected to a very vicious verbal assault involving very strong language by another taxi driver. The police told me flat that it is not an offence to swear at NON police officers but it is a criminal offence to swear at Police officers !!

It is an offense but getting the police to prosecute is nigh on impossible.

I used to be a football referee and players would be sent off for using "foul or abusive" language. This was changed, but I can't remember exactly what to, so that it was the same as the law so players could be taken to court if necesary.

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Grandad,

Why do they need to prosecute when the police know that buffoon councillors will do their bidding for them?

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IDFIMH