The following press release went out from the GMB yesterday. It got coverage in the Morning Star and Terry has done four or five radio interviews. We meet again next week to see about developing the work possibly based around a Lobby on Workers Memorial day or something like that.
A fter a year or two's time we might have it universally recognised and sfaety training, cctv's etc in place but it takes organising, not having a good idea and then flying off half cocked.
If anyone is willing to get involved please get in touch. An injured driver or a member of the family of a driver who has suffered serious injury or worse will have far more effect on a Minister or getting the press involved
| Drivers Safety Campaign |
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Safety precautions needed as licensed mini cab drivers say ‘enough is enough‘ as 9 drivers are killed in 45 serious attacks by passengers since April 2007
GMB, the Union for licensed mini cab drivers, is planning a lobby at the Department of Transport to step up the campaign for CCTV cameras to be in stalled in all mini cabs following a spate of serious attacks on drivers that left nine of them dead at the hands of their passengers.
The introduction of CCTV camera in mini cabs in Sheffield has led to a 72% reduction in attacks on drivers. Bradford Council allows advertising on cabs for the sole purpose of funding CCTV in cabs.
GMB research shows that in April 2007 a mini cab driver in Sheffield as killed in a gun attack by a passenger that he was carrying at the time. A few days later another mini cab driver as killed by a passenger in Keighley, Yorkshire. In May a driver in Gravesend was run over by his own cab and killed by his passenger. In July two more drivers, one in Essex and the other in Huddersfield, were killed by their passengers. In September two mini cab drivers in Sunderland were killed by their passengers. In November the same happened to a driver in Nottingham and in December a driver was killed in a knife attack in Berkshire.
Overall in the same period there were 45 serious assaults with knives, guns, hammers, screwdrivers and fists which resulted in the nine fatalities in the towns listed above. These reports were pulled together from reports in the local press by GMB Professional Driver Branch.
Terence Flanagan, GMB Branch secretary of the Professional Drivers Branch said, “The GMB Professional Drivers Branch has decided that immediate action must be taken as a result of the severe risks to their lives and limbs those GMB members who drive mini cabs face on a daily basis.
GMB intends to set up a lobby of the Department of Transport and to draw public attention to this problem with events on Workers Memorial Day (28th April 2008).
GMB want the public authorities to ensure that funds are available via tax incentives and other methods to enable CCTV to be fitted in all licensed mini cabs and that shields are placed between the driver and the passengers as already happens on black cabs and busses. In addition GMB want mini cab firms to provide coaching and real training in how to spot trouble in advance and to deal with it when it occurs.
This is not pie in the sky. CCTV has already been introduced in Sheffield and has led to a 72% reduction in attacks on drivers. The installation of CCTV will have the added benefit of protecting passengers such as women travelling on their own who have themselves been subject to attacks by illegal unlicensed drivers.”
Ends
Contact: Terence Flanagan, GMB Professional Drivers Branch Secretary on 07958 275339 or GMB Press Office: Steve Pryle on 07921 289880 or Rose Conroy on 07974 251823.
Notes to Editors: The information on the 45 attacks on licensed mini cab drivers between April 2007 and December 2007 was collated by the GMB Professional Drivers Branch. The source was reports in local media across the UK. The Branch may have missed reports of attacks. The Branch has continued to updated the data and will publish the results on a regular basis. |
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