Zero tolerance on taxi abuse in Worthing and AdurCampaigh highlights zero tolerance of abuse of cab drivers in Worthing and AdurCampaigh highlights zero tolerance of abuse of cab drivers in Worthing and Adur
Revellers have been warned there will be zero tolerance for those who abuse taxi drivers.
Worthing and Adur councils have launched a new campaign to protect the area’s cab drivers after an increase in threatening and abusive behaviour.
Taxi bosses backed the move saying drivers were increasingly reluctant to work nights because of the behaviour of youths in the area.
Anyone caught abusing taxi drivers will be banned from all venues signed up to the local Pub Watch group.
Taxi managers told The Argus that drivers were increasingly the victim of passengers running off without paying, failing to pay the full amount or tossing old mobile phones at drivers in lieu of payment.
They said drivers were receiving more verbal abuse but were reluctant to report incidents to their colleagues.
Some firms had begun making customers pay up front because of the increase in customers running off without paying, naming Littlehampton, Rustington and East Preston as bilking hotspots.
One taxi manager, who did not want to be named, said: “It has increased drastically over the last five years and it is about time that somebody cracked down on it.”
The campaign has been backed by the Worthing Taxi Association, the Street Pastors, taxi marshals and the management of the town’s two nightclubs, Club One and Occasions.
Diane Guest, the chair of Worthing Pub Watch, said: “Posters and leaflets will be distributed and displayed in all the town centre licensed venues, taxis and private hire vehicles.”
Inspector Allan Lowe, of Sussex Police, said: “We already carry out patrols in the area and also monitor CCTV and this will continue.
“From now on the message is that your night out does not end when you leave these venues, if you misbehave either at the rank or in a taxi you will be banned from licensed venues in Worthing.”
Councillor Vicky Vaughan, the vice-chair of the licensing and control committee, said: “I am really pleased to see this campaign being highlighted.
“The taxi marshal scheme has been highly successful in Worthing in reducing incidents of antisocial behaviour and crime and disorder in and around the town centre taxi rank and together with other measures such as the Street Pastors is resulting in Worthing being a much safer place to enjoy a night out.”
source:
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/10395682 ... axi_abuse/
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