Taxi Driver Online

CRISIS talks between High Wycombe's cabbies and police have been scheduled for next week in a bid to prevent further strike action.

Strained relations between police and taxi drivers came to a head after the arrests of two taxi drivers on June 3, prompting a six-hour protest strike among major town centre firms.

The arrests triggered a flood of accusations from cabbies that police do not give them enough support when they are dealing with threatening and abusive customers.

High Wycombe's Race Equality Council (REC) hopes to ease relations between the two parties by "facilitating" discussions at next week's meeting.

Zia Ullah, of the REC, said: "It's enough to cripple the town and it's bad for businesses. We must look for ways forward."

Drivers from the town's main companies stopped work between 11pm and 6am on Friday, June 3, after news circulated of colleagues being arrested for threatening and abusive behaviour.

Ghulam Rasool, who represents the town's Hackney Carriage drivers, said he wanted to apologise to people who had been left stranded, but said he believed a lack of support from police had complicated the issue.

He said: "If nothing happens from police we shall go on strike again in the whole of the Wycombe area."

These sentiments were echoed by drivers across the town, who claim they are not getting the protection they deserve from unruly passengers.

Abrar Hussein, manager of Neale's taxis, added: "If the police carry on like this there are going to be more strikes."

A spokesman for Wycombe District Council said that police, taxi drivers and council officers, who awards taxi licences, met once every three months to discuss concerns.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "We do take complaints about our service seriously and do have a proper process for dealing with them.

"We continue to liaise and work in conjunction with Wycombe District Council and in particular their licensing department, Wycombe Race Equality Council and representatives of taxi companies to ensure relations between parties remain good."

Police confirmed that a 33-year-old man was arrested on June 3 on suspicion of theft and has been bailed for further investigation until July 2.

When has there ever been a ‘crippling’ taxi strike?

I seen and read a lot of bluster and huffing and puffing, but never seen a taxi strike work, let alone be 'crippling'.

Unless of course the 'crippling' relates to those in the trade. If that's the case then many have been successful.

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IDFIMH

40 odd years ago when London cab drivers had a 'co-ordinated rest day' (100%). The punters learnt that there was an alternative. Minicabs. I know I was there.

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Make trafic wardens redundant. PARK LEGALLY.
Congestion charge! Before it was free.

On june 3rd strike all major PH firms took part in the strike including HC drivers

But how many punters walked home?

I bet not many.

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IDFIMH

Bring on deregulation, 600 Taxis trawling the streets of Wycombe nobody will want to strike then will they. Crippling strike hope theres enough wheelchair friendley cabs out there to help all these crippled taxi drivers

Wycombe is already de restricted.

Regards

JD

It maybe deristricted but there is only 50 h/c out there and you go and try to get one from the council you will not succeed

As far as I know Wycombe has a quality control policy, that means anyone can apply for a license as long as they are prepared to meet the quality vehicle standards of the council.

Regards

JD

The council are not issuing any new plates at the moment because of a lack of rank space people have tried but casnnot get one as yet

That's quite correct, I understand the district council is waiting on the county council to sort out the funding for the additional rank space. It may be wise to have a look at the change of policy minutes and see what was stated. They legally can't refuse anyone a license as long as you meet the required standards. It would be a good idea for those who want a licence to get together and look at the current policy details and then approach the council from an informed position.

The 2004 DfT stats put Wycombe as having 50 cabs, the numbers haven't changed if what you say is correct and I have no reason to believe it isn't correct. That would mean Wycombe have issued no licenses since the change of policy decision and it would appear the reason for not doing so is because of rank space.

Regards

JD

Thats spot on JD and they are also having a black cab policy the last 8 plates issued a couple of years ago were put onto black cabs but 6 of those have now changed to saloon cars of 50 h/c only 3 are now wheelchair friendly