A fare report?
Leave a CommentOfficial figures released have shown that violent attacks on taxi drivers in the Yorkshire area have fallen to their lowest level for the last five years.
But while police say that one attack is too many, many drivers believe that a substantial number of assaults are going unreported.
A Freedom of Information request has revealed that there were 15 reports of taxi drivers being robbed and 46 of violent crimes against cabbies last year.
SUFFERING: Taxi driver Imran Ali still experiences pain after his leg was broken in three places by thugs
In 21 of those, race or religion was flagged as a factor.
The figure is lower than the period between January 2009 and December 2010, when there were 71 assaults and robberies; between January 2008 and December 2009, when there was 87 and for between January 2007 and December 2008, when there were 82.
However, Nasir Hussain, believes many crimes are going unreported as drivers would rather get it fixed so not to miss out on trade.
“If a driver has a brick thrown at his car and it smashes the window, he would rather get it fixed quickly so he can get back out on the road making a living,” he said.
“I try to encourage drivers to report these crimes to the police but they don’t always because they need to get back on the road.”
In May 2012, the Asian Express reported how a Halifax driver had his legs broken by two mindless thugs.
The 29-year-old was left housebound after the cabbie was dragged from the driver’s seat and beaten up by the attacker and another man.
He said: “I was very scared. Another man who was sitting on a wall came over and started kicking and punching me when I was on the floor. Then they used a crowbar to hit my leg.”
West Yorkshire police have been working with the cabbies to make them safer with measures such as increased funding from the Home Office for cameras in cars.
Mr Hussain said cameras can have helped drivers feel safer but, at a cost of around £1,600 to buy and another £150 to fit, not all can afford them.
He urged drivers to make sure they report any attacks.
