Tuesday 3rd February 2004

Taxi Dangers

One woman a week raped in illegal minicabs - in London alone!

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Taxiwise, the nationwide campaign to encourage the safe use of taxis, has called upon local police forces to remove bogus minicabs from the rest of the country.

New research carried out by a special Intelligence Unit formed by the Metropolitan Police has revealed that one woman every week is being raped after accepting a ride in an illegal minicab in London alone.

As a result of this investigation in the capital, London Mayor, Ken Livingstone and the Greater London Authority have launched a high profile campaign simply entitled ‘Know What You Are Getting Into’ to warn women of the dangers of accepting lifts from unlicensed minicabs.

But as Matthew Cheyne, Sales and Marketing Director, LTI Vehicles and a spokesperson for Taxiwise pointed out, this is only the tip of the iceberg.

"These attacks are happening every day all over the country. It is a serious problem and one that must be eradicated " said Cheyne.

"The statistics are appalling. The figures released by the Metropolitan Police show that in London alone at least four women are raped or sexually assaulted every month by unlicensed minicab drivers and show a total of 214 women – including 23 under the age of 18 – reported sexual assaults by illegal drivers in the past year. On average, there have been four rapes and 14 other sex attacks a month – half on women aged 24 or under. The likelihood is that similar levels of attacks are occurring in other major cities in the UK which demonstrates the extent of the problem ".

"Taxiwise welcomes the Greater London Authority’s campaign which specifically targets women who work in the Square Mile of London but would like to see similar campaigns rolled out throughout the country to encourage the safe use of taxis and urge women to take a black cab where possible or book a licensed private hire cab in advance. Do not take an illegal, unlicensed and bogus private hire car or minicab. Remember, the drivers of black cabs – an instantly recognisable British icon - are fully vetted and fully licensed, but absolutely anyone can call their car a cab and operate illegally – it’s not worth the risk ."

Another recent survey carried out by a London private hire company shows that 84 per cent of women will not travel unaccompanied in a minicab and 75 per cent said that at some time they had refused to enter a private hire vehicle.

[chris_w]

Why isn't more done by the police about this? They're not exactly hard to find. Go to any popular bar on a friday night and the drivers will be queuing up outside offering lifts. Chances are that when they check the drivers out they'll find plenty without appropriate insurance, licences etc.

A friend was held up at gunpoint then driven to an ATM by one of the cowboys...

[nonegreen]

Surely the answer to this is the cops dressed in drag taking mini cab rides, then batter shit out of the rapists, job done.

[cortinaman]

unfortunatly the problem with miniscabs in the central/greater london area is that they are unbadged and unregulated so basicly any tom,dick or harry can start a circuit and hire all the drivers he wants,all the drivers need is a dodgy ford sierra and an a-z (as they never know where they are going most of the time!).the only 'safe' cab is a black cab that is carrage office plated and driven by a proper badged and c.office regulated driver.most people wouldnt dare get into a miniscab if they saw the defects on most of them,esp the ones that hang around the clubs at chucking out time....miniscabs should have to pass the same carrage office checks as a black cab,be issued with a corrisponding pass cert and 6-monthly number and the drivers should have to do 'the knowledge' before even being allowed to pick up one single passenger!

unlicensed miniscabs should have been outlawed years ago imho.