This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6963464.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Cab drivers demand zero tolerance | Cab drivers demand zero tolerance |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Taxi drivers have called for a zero tolerance approach to violent passengers after claiming 43 drivers have been killed in the past 15 years. | Taxi drivers have called for a zero tolerance approach to violent passengers after claiming 43 drivers have been killed in the past 15 years. |
| The National Taxi Association said soft police action emboldened fare dodgers to commit more violent crimes. | The National Taxi Association said soft police action emboldened fare dodgers to commit more violent crimes. |
| The chairman of the association, Norman Deegan, called for an increased use of CCTV in cabs to catch perpetrators. | The chairman of the association, Norman Deegan, called for an increased use of CCTV in cabs to catch perpetrators. |
| The Association of Chief Police Officers said there was no national policy in place to tackle taxi crime. | |
| A spokeswoman said: "It's a matter for local forces to work with taxi drivers." | |
| Neither the Metropolitan Police or the Police Federation were available for comment. | |
| Escalation of offences | Escalation of offences |
| Mr Deegan said he did recognise there were practical difficulties in protecting taxi drivers. | |
| He said: "Obviously we understand the practicalities the police have, they can't ride shot-gun in every taxi, that wouldn't be possible." | He said: "Obviously we understand the practicalities the police have, they can't ride shot-gun in every taxi, that wouldn't be possible." |
| But he said the police should take minor offences, such as fare dodging, more seriously. | But he said the police should take minor offences, such as fare dodging, more seriously. |
| He said: "The police seem to see it a bit like riding a bike at night without lights and direct them to the civil courts. | He said: "The police seem to see it a bit like riding a bike at night without lights and direct them to the civil courts. |
| "What we're saying is that the reason why a lot of these people are so emboldened to attack a taxi driver is that they've escalated from not paying the fare." | "What we're saying is that the reason why a lot of these people are so emboldened to attack a taxi driver is that they've escalated from not paying the fare." |
| They take it out on the taxi drivers as they're vulnerable Alias YousefCoventry Taxi Association | They take it out on the taxi drivers as they're vulnerable Alias YousefCoventry Taxi Association |
| Mr Deegan urged councils to take advantage of central government funding available for taxi firms to install CCTV cameras. | Mr Deegan urged councils to take advantage of central government funding available for taxi firms to install CCTV cameras. |
| Mr Deegan said: "We would firstly like the councils to approach the Government for funding for the installation of closed circuit TVs in taxis. | Mr Deegan said: "We would firstly like the councils to approach the Government for funding for the installation of closed circuit TVs in taxis. |
| "We'd also urge them to upgrade their own CCTV equipment focused on night-time taxi ranks so that if there is an incident in a taxi then it can be traced back." | "We'd also urge them to upgrade their own CCTV equipment focused on night-time taxi ranks so that if there is an incident in a taxi then it can be traced back." |
| Mr Deegan said he had collated the number of murders of taxi drivers through research into press cuttings. | Mr Deegan said he had collated the number of murders of taxi drivers through research into press cuttings. |
| Iron bar attack | Iron bar attack |
| Last week in Coventry, there was an alleged racist attack in which a driver was hit with an iron bar. | Last week in Coventry, there was an alleged racist attack in which a driver was hit with an iron bar. |
| Alias Yousef, secretary of the city's Taxi Association, said late night taxi drivers did not always feel safe. | Alias Yousef, secretary of the city's Taxi Association, said late night taxi drivers did not always feel safe. |
| He said: "I think this is the time of night where you have to be very careful now, because you've got a lot of people that have been influenced with drink and drugs. | He said: "I think this is the time of night where you have to be very careful now, because you've got a lot of people that have been influenced with drink and drugs. |
| "They take it out on the taxi drivers as they're vulnerable." | "They take it out on the taxi drivers as they're vulnerable." |
Previous version
1
Next version