Boycott threat by boss as thugs attack taxis in Allerton and Lower Grange
The boss of Bradford’s biggest minicab firm has threatened to boycott one of the city’s suburbs after a rise in attacks on his company’s drivers.
Shahid Iqbal, owner of Girlington Taxis, which operates a fleet of about 130 vehicles, said his drivers felt “intimidated” after a spate of incidents in Allerton and Lower Grange.
In the latest attack, at about 1.30am on Sunday, Mr Iqbal said three youths attacked a minicab with bricks and metal bars in Charteris Road, Lower Grange.
The back window and wing mirrors were smashed and, although the driver was unhurt, he was left “very shaken”, he said.
Police are investigating the attack and have also made four arrests in relation to previous offences against cab drivers in Allerton.
Mr Iqbal said: “One of our drivers, a 47-year-old who has worked for us for ten or 15 years, was attacked by a mob of three youths.
“His vehicle was badly damaged but he escaped unscathed thanks to his quick thinking. The mob attacked using bricks and metal bars.
“One of the youths tried to punch the driver from the passenger window, but the driver had locked the doors and drove off.
“This is not the first time our drivers have been attacked in the Allerton and Lower Grange area.
“If these incidents continue, we will consider, in liaison with other local taxi firms, a ban on all taxi calls to and from the area during late nights. This is a persistent and growing problem.”
Mr Iqbal said one of his company’s mini-buses had three windows smashed on Cobden Street, Allerton, on October 2 last year, while another recent incident involved bricks being thrown at a cab in Thyme Court, Lower Grange.
Inspector Steve Greenbank of the North Bradford Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “We take the issue of taxi driver safety very seriously and have conducted extensive inquiries into incidents in the Allerton area.
“Offences against drivers employed by Girlington Taxis were reported to us on October 2 last year and January 19 this year and police arrested three suspects in connection with the offences.
“Police also arrested a 23-year-old man last week in connection with a taxi robbery in July last year in Allerton, and he is on bail pending further inquires.”
The investigation into the latest incident was ongoing, he said.
Councillor Michael McCabe (Con, Thornton and Allerton) said: “It’s awful. I can fully understand why they do not wish to send their taxis out to that area.
“The selfish few affect the law-abiding majority, especially the vulnerable and elderly who need taxis to go about their daily business.”
In late 2007, in a bid to boost the safety of cabbies, Bradford Council agreed to allow adverts to be displayed on Hackney Carriages and private hire vehicles with the proviso that money raised be used to install in-cab CCTV systems.
But the scheme proved unpopular with cabbies, who said there were too many restrictions on the size of adverts and their positioning on the vehicle.
Mr Iqbal said: “CCTV has been installed at our offices, and will soon be introduced in vehicles, but Bradford Council will not issue clearer guidelines on advertising regulations in or on vehicles to cover the cost of CCTV installation.”
Martin Hamer, principal officer for fleet services, said: “We are well aware of safety issues for taxi and private hire drivers as well as passengers and the change in the law regarding advertising.
“We are currently drafting proposed changes to Council policy to allow increased advertising space on taxis which would make it more attractive for companies to advertise. This advertising could then fund fitting CCTV in cabs.”
Anyone who has intelligence about offences against taxi drivers can contact the North Bradford NPT on (01274) 537311 or CrimeStoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.
source:
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... ack_taxis/
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