West Midlands

Inside Out exposes the aggression that’s turning taxi drivers into targets.

In some parts of the Midlands drivers are being attacked or abused by passengers on a monthly, weekly, and even daily basis.

Violence on the increase

Ken Roberts has been a taxi driver for over 20 years. He believes that violent behaviour towards drivers is increasing.

"There’s more aggression, there’s more rush, there’s more general bad feeling towards taxi drivers because they’re seen as a hindrance."

"I picked this kid up, a young kid… I was just pulling in the garage because he ordered me to get cigarettes.

"Next thing I know a hand came through this hole and he’d got a kitchen knife in it."

Luckily Ken managed to force his assailant to drop the knife and he ran away. But it left Ken shaken.

He is not alone.

Traumatic experience

One driver, who is too traumatised to reveal his identity, had to have nearly 100 stitches in his face and head after a racially abusive passenger bit him.

And plenty of others across the West Midlands have tales of verbal abuse, which can often be racist.

It’s most common at the weekend when passengers are more likely to be drunk.

In August 2007, cabbies in Coventry called a strike following a serious assault on a colleague.

"I think the taxi drivers feel that everyone’s got it in for them," says Ali Yousef, the Chairman of Coventry Taxi Association.

"They’d had enough and wanted to strike so, as the Chair of the association, we went for a majority vote and the majority of the drivers wanted to strike."

The walk-out lasted four days and made local police take notice and set up a targeted working group.

Whilst some drivers are still calling for more protection, others feel that the authorities are now taking practical steps to keep them safe.

In Rugby, for instance, CCTV has been fitted in a number of cabs and attacks have decreased.

The cameras have also proved vital in convicting one individual who ran off without paying.

Rugby driver Paul Herrington now feels more secure in his cab.

"If you’re a driver that’s feeling vulnerable, get a system. It’s absolutely fantastic and for peace of mind and safety it’s excellent".

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