Taxi Driver Online

Batley Today

July 12, 2006

HEADLINE: Drivers call for action to combat taxi attacks

CAMERAS in cabs and on street corners, a poster campaign and tougher police action were ideas put forward by taxi drivers in a bid to stop attacks on them and their cars.

At a special meeting on Tuesday, attended by dozens of taxi drivers, police and members of Kirklees Licensing Committee, Akooji Badat, joint chairman of Kirklees Hackney Carriage Association, said the number of incidents involving youths throwing bricks and stones was increasing in Batley.

The News reported last week that Mahmood Ahmed, who works for Oakwell Cars, narrowly escaped serious injury after a teenage boy attacked his car with rocks on the Wilton Estate. Mr Badat said since then, more attacks had come to light and there were fears they were spreading to other parts of Kirklees, including Gomersal and Dewsbury.

"Where do we go from here? This is quickly becoming a day-to-day occurrence. We need to find a way forward before someone is killed. Taxi drivers have become prime targets for these youths and it has got to stop," Mr Badat said. Taxi drivers at the meeting said they would like to see more CCTV in the areas where the attacks are occurring, particularly the Wilton estate. They also raised the possibility of cameras being installed inside taxis.

Kevin Kendall from Kirklees Licensing said this was something which was being looked into and which could be introduced in the future. Insp Ian Gayles said police in Batley were working to tackle the criminal behaviour by youths. He said: "We will not tolerate this kind of activity and we urge all taxi drivers to report any such incidents to us. It is dangerous to drivers, it is dangerous to customers and it is dangerous to pedestrians. We are committed to working with all the taxi drivers to put a stop to this but I urge you not to take matters into your own hands."

A poster campaign, similar to that used within hospitals, about how staff will not tolerate abuse and those people who do commit criminal acts against taxi drivers will be prosecuted, was well supported by drivers, police and Kirklees Licensing.

A proposal to stop taxi drivers entering areas where attacks occur, was not favoured by many. One driver said: "By doing that we are punishing ourselves and our customers. We would be putting our livelihoods at risk and that is something we do not want to do."
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