Taxi Driver Online

Grimsby Evening Telegraph

September 20, 2006 Wednesday

HEADLINE: 'How violent youths put me at risk'

BYLINE: PAUL COTTAM

The woman who witnessed an attack on a taxi driver claims passengers are also at risk from violence.

Sally Lidgard was travelling in the taxi when it was smashed up by yobs.

As reported on the Telegraph's front page on Monday, they turned on the driver when he tried to stop them, beating him over the head with a baseball bat.

Miss Lidgard, who escaped uninjured, said the ordeal in the early hours of Sunday morning has made her think twice about using taxis at night.

She said: "Two youths came from nowhere and started putting the windows through. "I managed to get out of the taxi. I was worried for my own safety. I thought they were going to attack me. "I can vow for the driver that it was totally unprovoked. I think they were just looking for trouble.

"They are the lowest of the low and complete scum of the earth.

"I do not feel safe as a passenger. "Taxis should be installed with security cameras now. That would make me feel better."

As reported, the 36-year-old driver, a Grimsby-area father, received stitches to a gash in his head in the incident, in Ainslie Street, Grimsby.

Taxi drivers across the area reacted strongly to the attack - the latest in a series of incidents against them. Gwen Bevers, manager of Cleethorpes-based AA Radio Cars, said: "I think it is right to say that taxi drivers need security cameras in their cars. If we had the money, that would definitely be the best solution.

"Drivers have asked not to work nights after seeing the story. The staff are getting very wary now. Soon, there will have to be no-go areas where it is deemed too unsafe for drivers."

Mrs Bevers advocated a system whereby all drivers ask for payment up front before setting off, but said this needed to be a scheme all companies participated in. She explained: "If all companies participate, people getting into any taxi in the Grimsby area will expect to be charged and there will be no problem."

Any information about the incident should be reported to Humberside Police on 0845 6060222.
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