Taxi Driver Online

CCTV protection needed for taxis


MORE taxi cabs in Corby will be fitted with CCTV cameras in an attempt to cut the number of attacks on drivers.

Several black cabs in the town are already fitted with cameras and now funding has been made available for between 12 and 15 more to try to protect cabbies.

In recent months there have been a number of attacks on taxi drivers in Northamptonshire, including occasions when drivers who have been robbed at knifepoint.

Many private hire taxis don’t have the benefit of the cameras. Among them is Star Cars in Corby – but owner Tommy Kane is looking to fit every one of his 53 vehicles with cameras.

He said: “Last year a man tried to slash the throat of one of our drivers.

“The driver tried to protect himself by putting his hand up and his hand was slashed instead. That was a life or death situation and the driver couldn’t work for nine months afterwards.

“Our drivers have been hit in the face and attacked with bottles so we need these cameras.”

Mr Kane said it was more important to get the cameras fitted in the run up to Christmas, when drivers were even more vulnerable.

He believed cameras, to be funded by public money, would act as a deterrent and added: “The cost of a few pounds could help to save someone’s life. This extra funding being provided will be a huge benefit.”

In September, a taxi driver suffered a broken arm and cheekbone after being assaulted in the latest attack on county drivers.

The 46-year-old man had picked up a fare at the taxi rank in Horsemarket, Kettering, and driven three women and two men to Butland Road in Oakley Vale, Corby, where they all got out.

The driver realised the passengers had not given him enough money so he challenged them but was attacked by the two men.

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