Taxi Driver Online

Think there's been one or two similar articles from the West Midlands in the past, but focusing on the racial abuse dimension rather than violence per se

The blueish text in the article below is a link to a related thread, it's not just highlighted text.


'I'm scared to do my job' - Hundreds of taxi drivers attacked on our roads

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black- ... i-25036977

Defenceless cabbies beaten and robbed for just doing their jobs

Hundreds of taxi drivers are being attacked in the West Midlands every year, with shocking new figures proving what a dangerous job it can be. Defenceless drivers have been robbed and beaten in a series of frightening attacks.

Data from West Midlands Police (WMP) showed how taxi drivers often risk their safety just to do their jobs and provide for their families. Between January 2018 and March 2021 there were a total of 901 attacks involving cabbies recorded by the force.

And, as police don't always record details of a victim's occupation, it's possible there could have been many more. In 2019, there were 334 incidents recorded, almost one every day on average, illustrating the shocking scale of violence towards helpless drivers.

That was a rise from 276 the year before. There was a drop to 236 in 2020 but the Covid pandemic meant fewer people took taxi journeys that year. The figures, released by WMP, only went as far as March 2021.

In the majority of cases, no-one was caught for the assaults, either because a suspect couldn't be identified by detectives or a lack of evidence. There were also at least 168 cases where taxi drivers did not want to take it any further, and chose not to support prosecution.

Last month, an Uber driver was robbed and beaten by a gang of vicious youths during a horrific attack in Bloxwich. That came after a driver was punched in the face on the A4540 Lawley Middleway in Birmingham in June.

Earlier this year, cabbie Jamil Bashir told Birmingham Live he was considering quitting after being subjected to a shocking road rage attack on Warwick Road, Acocks Green.

“Is it worth it?” he said. “If something like this happens, I can’t get out of my cab because I could lose my licence.

“I’m now fearful of driving and that’s never happened before. Since lockdown was lifted things have been really bad, I don’t know what’s wrong with people.”

Imran Shafiq, chair of the Dudley Taxi Association, said attacks on drivers and customers refusing to pay, which can spark confrontations, is becoming an increasing concern. He said: "Especially in Birmingham, it happens quite a lot, especially during the night.

"A trend we're seeing now is a lot of people not paying for taxis. They just get out and walk off and when a driver confronts them they either get abused or physically abused.

"They're helpless. There is nothing really they can do. The police; sometimes they help, sometimes they don't. They say (not paying) comes under bilking."

Mr Shafiq believes the cost of living crisis may be having an impact. He said: "With everyone's financial situation, it doesn't help.

"Everyone is struggling and everyone is in the same boat though. Some people don't care who they rip off."

As is often the case with stuff like this, don't know if it's the best idea to say that kind of thing in the local press


Not sure what he means by the remark about bilking. In context it looks like he's saying police say it's a civil rather than criminal matter, but who knows?

Anyway, the article seems to come to quite an abrupt halt, as if there's stuff missing. Maybe it's because articles like this normally end with an official statement from police or the council etc, but maybe there isn't one. Or someone forgot to include it in the article

While looking for a definition of bilking, came across this, which is an FOI response from the Met, which seems to be from April this year. Nothing particularly new for regulars on here in terms of the substantive legal position, perhaps, but maybe one or two interesting nuggets for those interested in how these things are approached. But, of course, it's the Met, so other forces no doubt take different approaches.

There's some jargon and abbreviations. SOP seems to be Standard Operating Procedure, which is self-explanatory.

TDIU is Telephone and Digital Investigation Unit, which seems to just mean that it's done by telephone and online rather than deploying officers on the ground.

"THRIVE+ (Threat, Harm, Risk, Investigation, Vulnerability, Engagement) is the Met's standard framework for understanding public demand and prioritising the deployment of proportionate resources."

"'S' grade calls are calls where there is a "degree of importance or urgency associated with the initial police action, but an emergency response is not required"."

Can't work out what FC means, and it's not even in this huge list of Met abbreviations:

https://www.met.police.uk/foi-ai/af/acc ... /glossary/

Anyways:


Policy/guidance/material from MPS has for with person/s refusing to pay Taxi Fare

https://www.met.police.uk/foi-ai/metrop ... taxi-fare/

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.024061

I note you seek access to the following information:

Can you kindly provide a copy of any policy, guidance or material that the Met Police has when dealing with person/s refusing to pay a Taxi Fare.

What training is given to 999 operators for the above and supply a copy of the policy, guidance or material used.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

There is no specific policy, guidance or material that relates to officers investigating a person refusing to pay a Taxi Fare. This would be covered by the General Investigation Policy.

For your information, the offences relating to passengers who fail to pay are as follows:

• Making off without payment under Section 3 of the Theft Act 1978. The passenger runs of without paying.
• Obtaining services dishonestly under Section 11 Fraud Act 2006. The person knowingly takes a journey without having the funds to pay but does not notify the driver until arrival at the intended destination. Similarly, the passenger outright refuses to pay at the intended destination.

With regard to training issued to our telephone operators, please find the below extract which is relevant:

Making off without payment
Although not part of the Fraud Act this definitely fits in with this section – It covers failing to pay for taxi’s, failing to pay for petrol, running away from restaurants etc.

Look at the SOP and at the theft SOP it covers these issues and tells you what to do etc.

Following some confusion in FC a reminder has been issued re bilking;
There are over 28,000 licenced black cab drivers working in London.

All drivers and their vehicles are strictly regulated by TfL.

Laws relating to taxis date back to 1843, so many abstract offences can be committed in taxis, however police generally become involved when the fare hasn’t been paid.

Such incidents fall into one of two categories;

1. Civil Disputes
2. Theft

Civil disputes
If a passenger refuses to pay the fare they commit an offence.

However if they have a genuine reason for non-payment or a complaint about the route taken then this is a civil matter. Both parties have rights and they should be encouraged to exchange details and seek civil remedies.

If someone has been sick in a taxi this is not a criminal offence and should be treated as a civil dispute. Police would not normally deploy to such incidents.

However if a hirer refuses to provide their details or gives a false address they commit an offence.

Bilking
Bilking is the term for making off without paying the fare.

Anyone running away from a taxi with no intention of paying is guilty of an offence. (Fraud Act 2006 s11).

Any person can arrest someone for bilking, however cab drivers are strongly advised to call the police, as wrongful arrest can lead to civil claims.

Advise drivers to get a good description of suspects, stay in their cab and (if appropriate) await police attendance.

These incidents can be ‘S’ graded if the usual criteria are met - the suspects location is known, just happened etc. Or alternative arrangements - TDIU, appointment etc, may me more suitable. (THRIVE+ will apply)”

One of the reasons, probably the main one, why people can't get a taxi/PH late at night.

_________________
IDFIMH

But the buffoons of Derby think otherwise and are content for that lack of evidence to continue.

_________________
IDFIMH