Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies march on police station

Disgruntled taxi drivers descended on Greyfriars police station and Bedford Town Hall on Wednesday to call for extra protection following a violent assault in Putnoe.

Around 50 cabbies gathered to protest that police officers did not respond quickly enough when an Eagle Cars driver was assaulted in Cranborne Close at around 9.30pm on Tuesday.

The man was taken to Bedford Hospital South Wing with head injuries following the assault, which police believe was an attempted robbery.

A spokesman for Eagle Cars, based in Midland Road, said: "The reason they are protesting is if we had done something to a customer in self-defence we would have been in trouble, but the drivers feel the police do not respond in time if they are in danger."

Drivers from most of Bedford's taxi firms were involved in the march, which resulted in representatives being invited to two meetings with Supt Mark Turner and Bedford Borough Council's services manager for
registration and administration, Keith Simmons, so ways to improve safety for cabs could be discussed.

Tajrur Rahman, secretary for the Hackney Carriage Association, said if attacks continue there will be areas of town where taxi firms will not go.

Coun Mohammad Yasin (Lab, Queens Park), who is a cab driver in Milton Keynes and attended the meetings, said: "I am really concerned for the safety of the drivers.

"The police promised previously they would do something about the number of attacks and improve safety. The drivers are really angry about this and I can understand why."

A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police said: "Supt Mark Turner met with taxi firms to continue talks with them to ensure drivers can work as safely as possible with our support.

"They do a very important job in Bedford and it is very important we support them to keep the town centre safe."

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