Cabbie threatened with knife as abuse of taxi drivers is on the risehttps://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornw ... xi-2664999Members of Newquay Taxi Association are demanding action by the police and Cornwall Council as they feel increasingly unsafe just doing their jobs
Cornwall Councillor and cabbie Mark Formosa (right) with (from left) taxi driver and fellow Cornwall Councillor Kevin Towill, taxi association chairman and director of 123 Taxis Julian Church, and taxi drivers Sharon Wilson and Steve Witchell outside the Newquay offices of 123 Taxis (Image: Mark Formosa/Cornwall Live)Taxi drivers in Newquay say they are coming under increasing abuse from customers with some being threatened with knives.
Now the cabbies have called for a meeting with police and crime commissioner (PCC) Alison Hernandez to see what can be done to protect them.
Cornwall councillor Mark Formosa, who is a taxi driver, is arranging the meeting between the PCC and Newquay Taxi Association.
In recent months they say there has been an increase in verbal and physical abuse on taxi drivers in the town.
Cllr Formosa said that last weekend a driver had a customer who threatened to stab him.
He said: "It's a typical incident and it is becoming more and more common. A spike in drug use is also causing this - there are a lot of drugs that are much more readily available in Newquay than before. We have the former legal high Spice and things like crack that we didn't hear about in Newquay previously.
"People who are doing a public service like myself and the other drivers are more likely to come into contact with these people.
"Most customers are lovely, they have been out for the evening to restaurants or nightclubs, they have had a good night and just want to get home in good spirits.
"But then you can have a customer who is difficult or aggressive and these are becoming more and more frequent. We have people who refuse to pay a fare or they become aggressive and threatening.
"We have threats of violence and there are also incidents where drivers and customers have been abused."
Cllr Formosa claimed the police were not taking the incidents seriously and said he hoped the PCC would help ensure there was zero tolerance towards the problems.
"We don't believe the police are taking the incidents seriously enough and the general public in Newquay deserve better. An attack on one is an attack on all.
"A firm message needs to go out there that people who attack others and threaten violence will be met with the full force of the law."
Taxi driver Steve Witchell is also backing the campaign and said the police and Cornwall Council need to provide more support.
He said: "The council has its own zero tolerance initiative for protecting its staff against physical and verbal abuse.
“It makes an interesting read, especially the part that says non-physical assault is the use of inappropriate words or behaviour causing alarm, distress, and/or constituting harassment. Are we not entitled to the same policy?”
Cllr Formosa added: “While the council has power over taxi drivers as licence holders, they have no power whatsoever over our customers. Therefore, the police can be our only port of call when we are faced with unacceptable behaviour from a member of the public.
“When a customer crosses the line, for example threatening violence over the price of a fare, at that point they become a criminal. Then, it is a case of dialling 999. as I always do when faced with such an emergency, or 101 when it is not an emergency in progress.
“Threatening or enacting violence to try to get a discount of, say, £20, when the journey has commenced really is no different to mugging a taxi driver for £20.”
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