Liverpool taxi drivers call for action over rise in fare dodgers
Jan 4 2011 Liverpool Echo
One of Liverpool’s biggest taxi firms is losing hundreds of pounds every month at the hands of fare dodgers.
City private hire company Delta today said they were encountering 100 “runners” every month.
And cabbies today spoke out and called on police to take the offence more seriously to protect their business.
Kevin Button, Delta operations manager, told the ECHO: “The situation has got progressively worse over the last 18 months.
“But during the summer, we had a massive spike with nearly as many as 1,000 between July and October.
“Something needs to be done.”
Citing examples when drivers have been ripped off, Delta described how:
A woman was taken from Norris Green to Chester, a fare of £40, only to escape by running off down a side street.
Two women were taken to Runcorn who promptly sprinted away when they were asked for the payment.
An Asian cabbie who was unable to collect his fare, but was also attacked and robbed of £50 takings.
Delta has been in discussion with Merseyside Police in a bid to present a united front against lawbreakers.
Traditionally, it has proved extremely difficult to gather sufficient evidence to present a case at court, if the offender is caught.
One cabbie from the Bootle firm, however, has steadfastly pursued one “runner” and the matter has recently been taken through the magistrates.
In that incident, the fare dodger escaped into a house when a police car was coincidentally at the top of the street.
Mr Button added: “Runners can take anything from the minimum fare to £50 or £60.
“Some drivers tell us how they have customers happily chatting away to them before legging it.
“The tactic seems to be to pull up handily next to an alleyway or trying to jump over a fence to get away.
“In hackney cabs the doors remain locked if the taxi remains in gear, but that’s not the case for private hires.
“Drivers are already exposed as there’s no screen between then and the passenger. These runners leave them with a big financial hit.
“With the price of fuel rising and insurance going through the roof, cabbies are losing a lot of money.”
A spokeswoman from Merseyside Police said: “If an allegation of theft is reported to us then we will always investigate. Often, in these cases, many drivers do not report the matter to us and it can be difficult to find enough evidence to prosecute.”
Source; http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpoo ... 7928084/3/
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