Taxi Driver Online

16 Feb 2008

Police hunt taxi stoning thugs

Fleets of taxis carrying policemen are patrolling Preston to catch out
brick-throwing yobs.

Cabbies are being targeted by a gang of youngsters hurling stones and
bricks at their vehicles in Ashton and some are considering boycotting
some hot spot streets.

There have been at least eight separate attacks in the past fortnight, one
of which ended with a brick crashing through a driver's window.

Now taxi associations fear someone could be killed if the problem is not
stopped.

Uniformed police officers began travelling in the back of cabs earlier this
week in the hope of catching the louts in the act.

The tactic is to continue until the gang, believed to be aged between 12
and 13, are caught.

Mark Selley, treasurer of the Preston Licensed Hackney Carriage
Association, said: "If it continues it is only a matter of time before a driver
loses control and then I dread to think what could happen.

"The last thing we want
to do as public hire taxi drivers is start thinking along the lines of no-go
areas but the simple economics are if someone cracks a brick into your
cab you are going to have to pay for it."

Officers are in the back of the cab as it drives round the estate. No taxi
with police in has been attacked so far. The eight incidents have happened
at Blackpool Road outside the gates of Haslam Park and Waterloo Road,
near the railway line.

Insp John Ainsworth, of Lea police, said: "I am sure there are at least
three 12-13-year-olds involved with this. It is horrendous."

Source: Lancashire Evening Post

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