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Seven women every month attacked by illegal cab drivers
Evening Standard20 Dec 2007
More than seven women are raped or sexually assaulted by illegal minicab drivers in London each month, figures reveal.
Since January, 84 female passengers have been attacked after using unlicensed taxis. The statistics, compiled by the Mayor's office, demonstrate that despite a long-term clampdown on illegal cabs, some women are still willing to take a chance on one.
However, they also show that there has been a significant drop in the number of attacks reported over the past five years following the introduction of a licensing system for minicab drivers and operators.
There were more than 70 attacks between January and November this year, compared with 157 during the same period in 2002. A scheme called the Safer Travel At Night Campaign, led by Transport for London and the Met, has made people more aware of the risks of using illegal cabs. It is thought to have contributed to a significant fall in the number of women willing to use them in the West End.
New services such as Cabwise, which provides a 24-hour text service offering the phone numbers of black cab and licensed minicab firms, have also increased the options for people out at night.
Mayor Ken Livingstone said: "At this time of year it is incredibly important we continue to get the message out that, because of the options that are now there, no one ever has to use an illegal minicab. Over the coming year we will continue to work to eradicate illegal taxi cabs from London and to keep improving late-night travel."
Reader views (3)
I always use illegal cabs!
Why? well they must be providing a service the legal ones aren't
in general I have found
CHEAP
friendly
always avliable (dont have to wait long)
can haggle with them a bit
cars are usually large and comfortable
they sometimes let you smoke to!
or you could get a legal one and
PAY LOADS
have a grump driver
wait ages in a taxi rank queue(a risk for women itself)
more often then not the interior's are tatty and in desperate need of repair.
drivers are by the book no discretion on price, smoking anything!!
and 99% time while in a legal cab they are more busy sorting out there next fare then driving the dam car!!
which sounds better to you!!
- Michael, essex, 24/08/2009 21:10
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Woman must not get into any car if they have not telephoned for a mini cab, which is how one legally hires them. Woman were being raped and assaulted for many years when very little was reported, there was profit generated from the advertising from unlicensed mini cab firms. Until the same strict rules are applied to mini cab drivers as are required for the Licensed London Taxi driver there will be a risk to woman. English woman should be aware how to hire a mini cab, but tourists may not have this information. There are numerous cars that have registered as mini cab drivers not yet with a license but able to avoid the congestion charge.
- K. Driscoll, Kent UK, 20/12/2007 15:53
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While black cabs remain expensive and will only go within the boundaries of central London, people will always opt for the cheaper alternative, even if that means taking a chance with an illegal taxi.
- L, London, 20/12/2007 13:43
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