Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies left to tackle drunks

7:20am Monday 11th June 2012

Frustrated cabbies have accused police of leaving them to deal with abusive drunks.

Bruno Beilizna, chairman of Warrington Hackney Drivers and Owners Association, says drivers are left to face abuse, racism and fare-dodging on Friday and Saturday nights.

Despite an ongoing initiative by police to encourage taxi drivers to report crime, Mr Bielizna still believes cabbies are vulnerable.

He said: “Drunks are a big problem and I think the police often just pass the problem on to us on weekends to get them out of town.

“Drivers are seen as easy targets because they are on their own with no-one to back them up.”

Mr Bielizna added: “You wouldn’t walk into Sainsbury’s, get £70 worth of shopping and say I’ve only got £20 to pay.

“These people have money for a night out, drinks and a kebab but they don’t want to pay for a taxi,” he said.

Veteran hackney driver Stephen Harper, from Callands, believes the problem extends to the way courts deal with abusive passengers.

The 51-year-old recently had to lock two drunks in his cab for refusing to pay the fare for their ride from Warrington to Leigh.

Mr Harper drove the pair to a police station where they were arrested, but not before they tried to kick open the doors and set fire to his cab.

He said: “They were ordered to pay £200 but in instalments of £5 a week, I just don’t think the justice system works.

“I’ve never thought about changing my job but my wife and son do worry about what could happen to me,” he added.

Mr Harper called for the council to stump up part of the money raised from taxi licence fees to help Hackney drivers install CCTV.

Chief Superintendent Richard Strachan said: “Taxi drivers play an important role in the night-time economy in Warrington. In the early hours they are the only means of getting home safely.

“Unfortunately, that means taxi drivers are often the target of alcohol -fuelled abuse and it is therefore inevitable that incidents do occur.

“When drivers report incidents we take positive action and will do all we can to trace those responsible and ensure they are punished.

“The safety of taxi drivers is paramount.”

Source; http://www.thisischeshire.co.uk/news/97 ... le_drunks/

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Oh my man makes so many good points there.

Often when the words 'safety' and 'paramount' are used in the same sentence the reality is totally the opposite to that claimed.

Only last week a York Hack driver picked up 2 young lads after a night out

on reaching the end of the journey which metered £7.00 the lads gave the driver a fiver and said thats all we got and thats all you are getting

The driver said its another 2 quid lads, he locked the doors of his WAV and waited, they wernt going to pay it
The lads set to damaging the WAV door and also put a side window out

The driver phoned the police stn and set off with the lads inside, meeting the police patrol a little way down the road

the 2 lads was arrested, the driver was interviewed, the outcome was....

because the driver took [given] the fiver the lads was not liable for the other 2 quid.

the police told the driver that because he had inprisoned the 2 lads [door locks] he could be guilty of kidnap, the police also said to the driver that because the door locks were on in the cab they had every right to try to escape, to which they did, try that in a police paddy wagon and see what happens

no charges brought, cost the cab driver £180 for new window

Ain't that the truth.

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

That's right.

Once you have taken part-payment it becomes a civil dispute, based on the hirer's perceived value of the journey.

Either take all the money, or none at all.

It happened to me many years ago too.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

That sounds like West Midlands Police.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

But he knows where they live.

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IDFIMH