Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers asked to get on board campaign against abuse


TAXI drivers are being asked to get on board with a campaign which aims to raise awareness of hate crimes.

Stickers promoting Stop Hate UK’s 24-hour victim support service are being distributed among the taxi driver community throughout January.

Bearing the strapline 'Hate hurts – abuse doesn’t travel in this vehicle’, it is hoped drivers will put the stickers in their taxis to help promote the service and encourage more victims to report hate crime.

Christine Ford, equality and diversity manager for Slough Borough Council, said: “We know that taxi drivers sometimes witness hate crime during the course of their working days and nights, and can also be victims themselves.

“We’re trying to enlist their help in spreading the word that hate crime doesn’t have to be tolerated and will be taken seriously if reported.”

Hate crimes are motivated by prejudice or hatred of disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or gender. They can include name calling, harassing emails and texts, spitting, physical assault and criminal damage.

Officials say most victims do not report incidents to the police.

Cllr Sohail Munawar, commissioner for social and economic inclusion with a responsibility for community safety, added: “Lots of people put up with abuse because they don’t feel comfortable getting the police involved or they don’t think it’ll be treated seriously. The Stop Hate service is fantastic because it gives people somewhere to turn without involving the authorities unless victims request it.

“We ask taxi drivers to help us support local people and say 'no’ to hate by displaying the stickers in their vehicles.”

Stop Hate UK is a national charity which provides independent and confidential support to people affected by hate crime. It offers a free 24-hour reporting service and advice line that allows people to talk about their experiences and be referred to other support agencies if they wish to.

Contact the Stop Hate UK 24-hour helpline on 0800 138 1625, text 07717 989 025 or email talk@stophateuk.org or visit website www.stophateuk.org

For people who are deaf, or have speech or hearing impairments, text relay: 18001 0800 138 1625.

Victims can also call police on 101, or dial 999 in an emergency.

source: http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/ro ... nst-abuse/

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