Taxi Driver Online

Taxi fury at knife attack on a driver

A TAXI firm boss says he is 'furious' after lawyers refused to prosecute a knife-wielding passenger who attacked one of his drivers.

Sadiq Chaudhry, who owns 24/7 Private Hire, based at the Sharpes Industrial Estate, in Alexandra Road, Swadlincote, has branded the criminal justice system 'pathetic' after police arrested the culprit - a 26-year-old Woodville man - but let him go without charge due to 'insufficient evidence'.

Mr Chaudhry said that the driver involved had picked up a couple from The Paramount pub, in West Street, Swadlincote, at 2pm on Sunday.

He dropped them off at an address in Woodville and an argument over the fare ensued.

"The man said he was going to fetch the fare and went inside a house," said Mr Chaudhry.

"The driver waited for a few minutes and knocked on the door when he didn't come out.

"The man then chased him with a knife, and the driver got back into his cab.

"He went round to the passenger side and slashed the passenger seat headrest and said to my driver: 'That will be your neck if you don't clear off'."

The driver, who was not hurt but was too scared to speak to The Mail, managed to lock his cab.

He called police, who arrested the man on suspicion of criminal damage.

However, officers have now told Mr Chaudhry that the matter cannot be taken further.

"My driver is so frightened that he's off work at the moment," he said.

"They caught the guy and found the knife, so why can't they charge him? I'm furious.

"My driver has a wife and children and his life was put at risk; the police aren't offering us protection. It is pathetic - a disgrace.

"I am calling a meeting with my 15 drivers and will have to think about getting security cameras fitted in my cabs because they are getting too frightened to make late-night pick-ups."

Derbyshire Police spokesman Jill Walden said: "Officers investigated the matter thoroughly and made an arrest at the scene.

"It was forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and it was solely their decision not to charge the suspect with any offence."

A CPS spokesman confirmed that their lawyer had "advised that there was insufficient evidence to proceed", but could not offer any explanation why.

Mr Chaudhry said he was taking his case to South Derbyshire MP Mark Todd and licensing authority South Derbyshire District Council.

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

Once again, CCTV would have been of assistance in aiding the CPS prosecute this offence. It does however highlight the inconsistencies of the willingness of the CPS to prosecute in individual areas?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Strange this case will go no further yet; in the following story the police are issuing APB's in an effort to catch the culprit.

http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9163

CC

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

CCTV ..as good as it is only helps inside the Vehicle, Im guessing most problems arise outside the Vehicle, its a Pity there wasnt some form of 360 Degree roof cam to pick up on these.

The passenger informed the driver he was going inside for the money, the passenger never came out to pay the driver, the passenger then slit the furniture of the taxi with a knife and threatened the driver with the same knife. I think that would have been very persuasive evidence captured on film and shown to a jury? It would have been even more persuasive if the CCTV also had sound.

Sound is something I have advocated for a long time because I believe it is a necessity as far as cab protection is concerned, it is also lawful under such circumstances regardless of what your local council might advise.

I might add that as far as I am aware no council authorised CCTV equipment has the facility of sound. If anyone knows of any that do then please let us know.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Once again we see the media calling a mini cab firm a taxi company.

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http://www.fleetway.ca/samples/cab.swf

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SF5ep04izcQ

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2KDLd4gJ ... re=related

Once again you are calling a PH company a minicab firm.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

That will never change because the public perceive both Private hire and hackney carriages to be Taxis. I suppose that is because they both carry fare paying passengers and whether we like it or not their perception is highly unlikely to change.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Yep and in London the public perceive PH drivers as Mini cabs.
Often heard in pubs in Kilburn "who ordered a mini cab to camden, their outside"

I dont understand why PH drivers in the rest of the country think that London's PHV drivers are the same as they are, they are not.
They have emerged after thirty years of Illegal activity and were only licensed because TFL didn't have a clue what to do about the scale of crime that was being committed by them on the streets of the capital. Most mini cab firms are part of an organised ring.
Don't believe me, then come to London and try to run a set of cars outside any venue and see how you fair.
I can just hear the barrack room lawyers now, show us the proof where are the links.
Come to London and have a good look for yourselves, next time your team plays at Wembly, have a look at the rank outside the ground and see the scuffles between the Taxi drivers and the Licensed mini cabs.
Watch the Police pass by on the other side of the road more interested in nicking a poster salesman
Self opinionated! nope just sick of the inaction from the authorities

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http://www.fleetway.ca/samples/cab.swf

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SF5ep04izcQ

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2KDLd4gJ ... re=related

That's quite right because both public and media perception has always been that of a mini "CAB". Notice the emphasis on the word "CAB". That is never going to change as far as London is concerned and neither is the perception of what amounts to a Taxi in the provinces.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

I'm so glad we cleared that one up.
so in London PHV's are mini CABs and Licensed Hackney cabs are TAXI's.
That's how it is now and has always been. Why confuse the public!

But it doesn't matter wether it is a Cab or a Taxi, we still deserve better protection from the Police.
In London most of the police stations are shut at night and when you call 999 you get through to an operator in the midlands who has no idea what you require. Its farcical.

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http://www.fleetway.ca/samples/cab.swf

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SF5ep04izcQ

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2KDLd4gJ ... re=related

That'll be taxi as in a licensed hackney carriage then

and PHV as PHV

CC

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

If reality prevails about the public perception of Hackney carriage and private hire vehicles then we shouldn't bury our heads in the sand by convincing ourselves that the reality is somewhat different than that perceived by the public.

The reality is that the vast majority of the public think both hackney cabs and private hire vehicles are Taxis. If that perception ever changes then we will have a different meaning to the present realistic situation.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

I know a council that does, and I also know a driver that has it in his vehicle.

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IDFIMH

So do I

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!