Taxi Driver Online

This topic of Bristol marshals might have been mentioned before but the comments of the TGWU rep may brink a wrye smile to the faces of some on here knowing what was said at the Transport Select committee hearing.

"Marshals are to be introduced to stop drunken violence at Bristol's busiest city centre taxi queue. A trial scheme will see three people supervising the queue at the Colston Avenue pick-up area every weekend from 11pm to 3am on Fridays and Saturdays for the next three months.

Trouble often breaks out in the queue late at night as people wait for a lift home after a night on the town.

Although the marshals will not be police officers and will have no powers of arrest, they will be trained to put an end to queue jumping and prevent anti-social behaviour, as well as only allowing licensed Hackney carriages to use the rank.

They will also stop people who are deemed to be too drunk to travel from climbing into taxis.

A new state-of-the-art fixed CCTV camera will also be fitted overlooking the taxi rank, to provide pin-sharp images of troublemakers and taxi number plates, should they be needed.

The marshals, who will wear fluorescent jackets so they are easily visible, will be supported by officers in a new police community contact vehicle, which is to be parked on The Centre just 40 yards from the taxi rank every Friday and Saturday night.

They will also be able to call in a team of paramedics, who will be based alongside the police.

Pub and club-goers complained of a shortage of taxis on weekend nights and organisers hope the scheme will encourage more cabbies to work on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Taxi leaders have welcomed the three-month trial scheme.

Driver Clive Burdett, of the Transport and General Workers' Union, said: "Anything that makes it safer for taxi drivers and passengers must be welcomed.

"I am sure this will give our members more confidence to ply their trade in the city centre on Friday and Saturday nights and that must be good for the trade and good for all the people of Bristol."

The Taxi Marshal Scheme is the latest element of the Bristol Nightsafe programme operated by Safer Bristol - a drive to tackle violent crime in the city centre.

Other initiatives have included banning on-street drinking and dispersal orders to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour.

City council leader Barbara Janke, the chairwoman of Safer Bristol, said: "No one should have to feel threatened while they queue for a taxi and no taxi driver should have to face abuse."

The scheme is being launched on Friday.

Inspector Mike Cox, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "The initiative is one of a number of partnership trials to manage nightlife in the city centre.

"We hope it will attract more taxi drivers back to the city."

Best wishes

JD