Taxi Driver Online

Wakefield Express

November 2, 2007

Campaign for action on bogus cabbies

A FORMER city councillor who campaigned against bogus cabbies after the Stephanie Hammill tragedy would like the "keep safe" message to go out again.

Dr Hazel Chowcat, of Newmillerdam, was applauded in Wakefield's council chamber in 2004 for kick-starting an awareness campaign over the difference between lincensed and unlicenced taxis.

It involved posters and beer mats being distributed to inform clubbers about the dangers of travelling in bogus cabs. Only licensed hackney carriages can be hailed off the street.

Dr Chowcat said: "As a mother I was conncerned about teenage girls getting home after a night out in Wakefield."

The former Hemsworth councillor referred to Miss Hammill in her speech and the sexual assaults on women taxi passengers in other parts of the country.

She would also like to see London's "Lady Cab" scheme - where women feel reassured by being driven by female taxi drivers - to be introduced in Wakefield and for school children to be warned about bogus cabs.

Coun Olivia Rowley, cabinet member for community safety and cohesion, said yesterday: "The issue of bogus taxis is very important and as a result we made it one of the key themes for our ongoing award-winning Drink-head campaign, alerting people to the risks of using unlicensed taxis. The dangers are high so we ask that everyone checks that the taxis they use are licensed and legitimate.

"Each year in the run up to Christmas the council launches a campaign focused on some of the risks associated with the night-time economy which this year is scheduled to start at the end of November. Making our communities, towns and city centres safe and secure during the day and night is one of our main priorities and we will continue to focus on this in the future."
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Well why doesn't this ex-councillor dip into her pocket and start up a firm if it's such a good idea?

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IDFIMH