Following numerous assault reports and the death of a private hire driver in Bedford, Conservative MP, Richard Fuller, opened moved a debate in parliament on current health and safety issues surrounding UK taxi drivers.
The debate helped raise awareness of the intollerable abuse and violence suffered by cab drivers up and down the country. Despite playing a crucial role in our public transport, when it comes to personal safety cabbies are not awarded with the protection they deserve.
Taxi Trade Fears
Unfortunately taxi drivers regularly have to deal with drunk and disorderly members of the public, many of whom have no respect for the person behind the wheel. They are experiencing verbal and physical abuse, run-away customers and damage to their property all too often.
61 year old cabbie Mehar Dhariwal died earlier this year, following an attack while taxiing the week before. Mr Dhariwal had recently begun working as a taxi driver for AGS Cars in Bedford, after 35 years as a bus driver.
His family commented: “Dad adored his job as a taxi driver and although he didn’t need to continue working, he just wanted to be out and about.”
Mr. Dhariwal leaves behind a wife, three sons and four grandchildren.
Owner of AGS Cars, Fayaz Alhaq, said: “There is fear amongst my cab drivers around Bedford. We need more protection from the authorities.
“At the moment our drivers are scared of defending themselves because not only could they end up with a criminal record but they could lose their taxi licence, which is their livelihood.
“Every weekend my drivers are out there working with the public. It’s dangerous and I know at a council meeting before Christmas an official said they have to protect the public but what about protecting the drivers too?
“Our job is as dangerous as the police’s but they have the powers to use force and defend themselves when needed – we don’t.”
Bedfordshire police revealed that there had been 93 assaults in the past year on private hire and hackney taxi drivers, including 35 instances of aggravated bodily harm and 30 common assaults. Bedfordshire Council estimates that these figures equal 2% of drivers being assaulted each year. Few other jobs have this rate of unprovoked brutality.
The National Private Hire Taxi Association posted news reports of assaults on cabbies which involved knives, guns, baseball bats and hammers. Unbelievably there was also instances of drivers being set alight and run over by their own taxis.
“Unfortunate Fact”
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Norman Baker said: “Licensing authorities will do their best, I’m sure but the unfortunate fact remains that taxis and private hire vehicles can never be perfectly safe. They are often hired from isolated places at night, drivers carry cash and, self-evidently, taking a taxi or private hire vehicle generally involves getting into a car with a stranger. That combination of factors makes drivers and passengers particularly vulnerable to violence and it is important that we take what steps we can to minimise the risks.
“CCTV can be effective in both preventing and detecting crime and antisocial behaviour, and owners and drivers of vehicles understandably often want to install security measures to protect the driver. However, there’s a balance to be struck, not least given the Data Protection Act’s provisions on the processing of personal data. Nevertheless, the personal security of taxi and private hire vehicle drivers and staff clearly needs to be considered as well”
Mr Baker called for the “hugely important issue of drivers’ personal safety” to be delved into and to find a way to cut the statistics on cabbie assaults without it being a huge cost to the drivers.
Richard Fuller suggested using the “Proceeds of Crime Money” to launch CCTV cameras or partition screens in private hire taxis.
Initiatives to install CCTV cameras in taxis are already being rolled out in other parts of the UK and will now be considered for Bedfordshire. Many taxi sales suppliers now also after CCTV as an optional feature with their cab. If agreed, “Proceeds of Crime Money” could allow CCTV to be available to taxi drivers at little or no cost.
Mr. Fuller added: “Legislation on taxi licences dates from 1847 and 1976, so I welcome the Law Commission review and will be talking with them during their consultation.
“I was very pleased that the Transport Minister, Norman Baker, had such a positive response to my calls for more to be done for taxi driver – and passenger – safety. I hope the review of the legislation will suggest some initiatives to make our private hire and taxi sectors a respected part of our transport system, which is a status that both the drivers and the public deserve.”