Taxi Driver Online

Amersham: Investigation after woman locked in taxi by driver

https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/2 ... xi-driver/

A woman has been locked inside a taxi after a disagreement over the cost of a journey, police have said.

Thames Valley Police is looking for witnesses after a woman in her 20s was locked inside the vehicle on Oakfield Corner, Hill Avenue, Amersham.

The force said the woman got in the taxi near Natwest Bank between 4pm and 4.15pm on Sunday, December 22, 2024.

A disagreement occurred between the driver and her around the cost of the journey before the woman said she would take the bus instead.

But the driver then locked the car doors and refused to let the victim out.

She was eventually let out as a crowd formed around the taxi and the driver sped away.

The driver is described as a middle-aged Asian man and was seen to be wearing a beige or green suit jacket.

The taxi was a silver saloon car, potentially a Mercedes.

Investigating officer PC Milla Thomson, based at Aylesbury police station, said: “We have been conducting a thorough investigation following this incident and we are now appealing for the public’s help.

“This was a frightening incident for the victim, who despite her ordeal, was not injured.

“I would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information which could help our investigation.

“I am especially interested to hear from members of the public who formed a small crowd around the taxi, and also those who helped the victim after the incident.

"Anyone with information can make a report online or call 101 quoting reference 43240618707.

“If you do not wish to speak to police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

The event is being investigated as an incident of false imprisonment.

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IDFIMH

Buckinghamshire has saloon hackneys so I assume it was a hackney not PH. Be interesting to know if the dispute was over the metered price or if the driver tried to charge fixed fare ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Don't really get your logic here - it could have been an HC, but no reason it couldn't be a PHV

But had a look on StreetView earlier (couldn't be bothered posting) and no sign of a rank, so presumably it's a pre-booked run.

Wouldn't be surprised if more to this than meets the eye, though - as per usual, would be interesting to hear driver's side.

And, I mean, a group of people surrounded the car? Sounds dodgy in a shopping area in middle of Sunday afternoon, unless she was banging on the windows, or whatever.

But strange that he locked her in before the run even began - it's normally a dispute over the fare after a run.

Maybe he was just naffed off because he'd been hiked a huge distance for what was effectively a no-show, but who knows?

Ok this is what happened

Lady got out the station (Amersham) got to Taxi rank & asked driver to take her Location (Rural areas so Card payments are a-bit difficult) so asked to take cash machine on way Sunday Meter Starts £7.50 + £3 each mile after So driver puts on meter & drives to Cash machine, when they get to Cash machine she asks how much approximately it would be? When heard the price said she’ll use the bus, Driver then demanded the fare on Meter & she refused to pay which then escalated from their.

I have many times working at CMK station had customers get in drove off & as driving asked price then refuse to carry on the journey but don’t want to pay what’s on the meter.

Thanks for the information, Rashid.

Had a feeling it might be something like that, but when the article said "the woman got in the taxi near Natwest Bank" it made it sound like that's where the pick up was, so looked like a pre-booked run (whether HC or PH) rather than a rank hire.

So, basically, although it would probably sound a bit harsh to members of the public, the driver was certainly legally entitled to the fare to that point. So then it's maybe about the good old locking of doors, which of course has been a disputed issue over the years, and police will take a different approach depending on the circumstances, and depending on force policy and stuff like that.

But I'd guess that, because they didn't go very far, and it wasn't actually after a full trip, then police will judge the driver unfavourably, assuming he's ever caught up with.

But shouldn't be too difficult if he works the station rank, because it's only a few hundred yards away. This is it here, and would probably take about 45 seconds or so to get to the bank if traffic was light - just a mini roundabout to negotiate, and then it's straight up the street a few hundred yards to the bank. Don't know about the tariffs there, but on our Fife tariff the meter wouldn't even budge from the flagfall up to that bank.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.67452 ... FQAw%3D%3D

Might as well include this link as well since I had a look at where the bank is - it's on the left here, just by where the woman and dog are, and it's more or less a straight drive up here from the station - a few hundred yards or so:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.67612 ... FQAw%3D%3D

Yes, I'm sure we've all had a few of them, and also those who get in (especially late at night), set off, and then just round the corner decide they don't want to go at all, and they just get out, because they see their pals outside the pub/club, or whatever

As for the fare thing, specifically, I often ask if they are aware of what the fare will be on longer trips and/or where there might be some reason it looks like they might end up thinking the fare is a lot lower than it actually will be, but like the money-up-front thing it's often a difficult call, and will vary depending on numerous factors.

If I’m on a Taxi rank and customer gets in & I turn meter on and move off my 1st position doesn’t matter if I get outside the station or I’m still inside the station if I’ve lost my 1st position Customer is paying what’s on the meter & I’ll keep the meter running until they pay Have internal camera & voice recorded so will put the customer on citizen arrest until I am paid
Different matter if I am driving & I'm flagged then customer decides to get out but after waiting 1-2+ hours on a Rank I’m getting my Meter price!
The customer, Public, Police & council need to understand this.
& what I heard the driver reported to Buckinghamshire council the same day Via Email& never got a response.

It might be an idea for the driver to consider that as a defence, if indeed that was the case at the time.

Never really considered that before, but if ordinary people are legally entitled to undertake a citizen's arrest (taking into account all the legal safeguards) then keeping them from leaving until the police arrive is an option.

If I was the driver in this case I would seek proper legal advice if charged.

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IDFIMH

Taxipoint did an article on this a couple of years back.