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Cabby's fury at lack of action
A TAXI-driver has claimed he will turn a blind-eye to crime from now on after police failed to prosecute a drunk man who caused more than £1,000 damage to his car.
Police have admitted they have launched an internal investigation following the incident on May 22 this year at Derry's Cross roundabout.
The owner of the cab, Gerrard Cormack, from Plympton, said his night-driver was driving Gerrard's brand new £27,000 Peugeot Expert E7 when a man in his early 20s jumped out in front of him.
Gerrard, aged 59, said: "My night-driver tried to swerve, but the kid leapt back into his path."
Witness statements taken at the time said the man claimed he was going to jump out on a car. He admitted under caution that he did it.
"Apparently his girlfriend told police they'd just had an argument and he said he was going to kill himself and leapt into the road."
The car suffered £1,100 damage to the bonnet and the bumper and had to be taken off the road for four-and-a-half days to be repaired.
Gerrard said: "I'd had the car just 14 days and the bonnet and bumper had to be replaced."
But Gerrard's troubles had only just begun.
He was told by the investigating officer – who Gerrard has said has been "superb" throughout – the case was passed on classed as a criminal damage, but claimed a senior officer then decided it should be categorised as "obstruction of the highway with intent to cause damage".
Gerrard said: "All the paperwork – including all the witness statements – went from Charles Cross station to Crownhill station, but they then said, 'no, it's criminal damage' and sent it back to Charles Cross. But it didn't arrive. It was over five months when police realised they'd lost the paperwork and they've only got six months to bring it to court.
"I sent a letter of complaint to the Chief Constable and this weekend I got a call from an Inspector basically saying 'sorry, case dropped, what else can we do to help you?'
"I said 'well, apart from get my money back, nothing at all'.
"My insurance company won't fight it now, because there's no paperwork. I've had my no-claims for nine years – and it'll be downgraded to two now.
"If I take out a private prosecution – there's no paperwork.
"I'm furious with the police.
"Taxi drivers are always getting it in the neck from police, but we're the first they come to for witness statements.
"Over the years there's been many times I've asked them for help and nothing's happened and this is the final straw.
"We've had drivers attacked, stabbed, robbed, beaten and threatened in recent months.
"Frankly, I've been let down yet again. It's too much. Why should I help them in the future?
"If I saw an accident now or an attack and I was asked for a statement, I wouldn't bother."
A spokesman for Plymouth police said: "As this matter will be subject to inquiries by our Professional Standards Department it would not be appropriate for us to comment at this stage."
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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin
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