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Source: House of Commons - Commons Debate Summary
24.06.09
Protection from assault for taxi drivers
Brian Binley opened an evening adjournment debate on potection from assault for taxi drivers.
Binley highlighted that violence against taxi drivers has "increased sizeably over the past decade".
He argued that the increase coincided with the rise in late-night drinking in major town centres and is coupled with the unsociable hours that taxi drivers work.
He argues that the vital importance of taxis to the transport industry was not well understood by many in local government. He noted that £3bn is spent on fares each year making it a "sizeable industry that plays a major role in our public transportation".
Binley highlighted that taxi drivers were often alone with their customers in their cabs and highly vulnerable.
"Taxi drivers carry out a vital function in some of the most difficult circumstances that we might imagine, and they pay a price. Taxi drivers are under attack. The figures are not only clear; they are quite horrifying", Binley argued.
Binley argued that taxi drivers lacked faith in justice system resulting in many attacks not being reported.
"We cannot afford to have a sizeable part of our community believing that the police are not interested. Action needs to be taken in that regard", Binley said.
Binley called for automatic protection between taxi drivers and their customers, such as screens in hire cars to stop attacks from the rear.
"There are good social reasons to encourage a simple answer for authorities that give licences to taxi cabs, and it would be easy to introduce a requirement to ensure that screens were fitted in non-Hackney taxi cabs-if we were willing to do so", Binley said.
He also discussed the benefits of CCTV which he argued were "a tremendous deterrent and a 98.5 per cent reduction on the previous year thanks to CCTV".
Sadiq Khan, transport minister, said "the debate is of interest not only to people who work as taxi and private hire vehicle drivers, but to all who are concerned with the safety of people who work in the transport sector.
"It is truly appalling that drivers who are, after all, providing a service for the public should be fearful about the prospect of getting through the working day unscathed, or, worse still, should have to endure abuse or violence".
Khan referred to the government's national research on the personal security of taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.
He said "It was particularly depressing to note from that research that Asian and other ethnic-minority drivers appear to have been subject to higher levels of abuse, much of which is racist in content. It was equally depressing to note that very few such incidents are reported to the police".
He also spoke about help for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to enhance their own personal security. He stated that the department had published guidance for drivers, in the form of a leaflet, outlining measures that they can take in order to stay safe.
The minister stated that the leaflets include practical advice on how to reduce the risk of violence, and also identify action that should be taken to deal with threatening behaviour and attacks.
"The best practice guidance that the Department produces on taxi and private hire vehicle licensing is a useful tool in assisting local licensing authorities in drawing up suitable licensing policies", he added.
Khan argued that department was not complacent, adding "We know that far too many drivers are still putting up with verbal, and, indeed, physical, abuse far too often".
Khan said "I believe that the key to reducing the number of assaults is effective partnership-working at local level. The taxi and private hire vehicle trades need to work with the local police, licensing authorities and community safety partnerships to highlight their concerns and to seek suitable solutions".
He acknowledged that this may lead to the funding of in-car CCTV cameras or shields between the driver and the passenger compartment, or to the deployment of taxi marshals at taxi rank hot spots.
Khan concluded "It is a terrible shame that we live in a society in which people still think that they can abuse taxi drivers verbally or physically and get away without sanction from the criminal justice system.
"We look forward to working further with the trade, the police, local licensing authorities, the Home Office.to ensure that we can find solutions to some of the challenges that he poses".
_________________ Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk
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