Self-defence workshop teaches taxi drivers to de-escalate ‘agitated’ customershttps://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2026 ... customers/
CAB drivers who attended a workshop designed to teach them the basics of self-defence are now better equipped to de-escalate aggressive behaviour arising from Islanders “more agitated” than ever by waiting times, a taxi company boss has said.
The “vehicle safety” session saw drivers learn the essentials of Krav Maga – a practical self-defence and hand-to-hand combat system developed in Israel.
Liz Boschat, the owner of Domino Cabs, said the session was arranged, in part, after one of her drivers was assaulted by a fare-dodging passenger at the end of 2025.
“Rather than arguing at that point, the driver asked him to leave the vehicle and said, ‘Please, can you just go? And I will carry on with my night.’
“But the customer became very aggressive with the driver, and it ended up that we had the police down, the ambulance down, and the person has since been convicted.”
While Ms Boschat made sure to emphasise that this was a “totally extreme case”, she pointed out that taxi drivers are often vulnerable to similar outbursts of frustration.
“You can’t see what’s going on and you’re always on your own with that person – and you’ve never got someone to support you,” she said. “I don’t think it has got worse, as such, in the amount of violence, I just think people are now slightly more agitated with waiting.”
The workshop covered front and back seat situations, recognising warning signs, de-escalation and deciding when it is safer to stay in the car or get out.
Richard Collett – the chief instructor at Jersey Krav Maga – said that he put together the self-defence session after receiving feedback from taxi drivers about facing “an increasing number of assaults and aggression” in Jersey.
“I said to them at the beginning: we want you to be able to go to work and sit in that chair and feel safe and happy to be there, knowing that you can deal with certain situations that might crop up,” he explained.
“We discussed the right to self-defence and we put that into situations where there may be a threat in the passenger seat, the front, or someone from behind.”
He added that the workshop included instruction on how to respond to “chokes, punches and straight punches through windows” as well as “headlocks from behind” and “how to escape a seatbelt wrapped around your throat from behind”.
“It was also about understanding whether it is safer to be in the car or out of the car, and when to get back in the car, all while managing distance and trying to de-escalate,” he said.
Tom, a Domino taxi driver who helped organise the self-defence class with Ms Boschat, said: “As taxi drivers, we sometimes deal with difficult or unpredictable situations. I wanted other drivers to have some basic knowledge of how to recognise danger early, de-escalate a situation and, if necessary, protect themselves and get away safely.
“Generally, I do feel safe working as a taxi driver in Jersey. Most customers are absolutely fine and serious incidents are not an everyday occurrence.
“However, drivers work late at night and sometimes deal with difficult or unpredictable behaviour. I have personally experienced situations where passengers became aggressive and things turned physical.
“Verbal abuse and difficult behaviour are more common. Sometimes something very small can trigger a reaction – [so] being able to stay calm, recognise the warning signs and de-escalate the situation can make a big difference.”
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