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Black cab drivers' fury over wife killer
Peter Dominiczak11 Sep 2009
Hundreds of black cab drivers caused traffic jams in Islington during a protest against plans to allow a schizophrenic killer to train for a taxi licence.
The demonstration came after the Standard revealed that 38-year-old Shamsul Haque, who has been given the all-clear by doctors, is studying for the Knowledge despite strangling his wife in 2000.
A fleet of cabs jammed the streets around the Public Carriage Office, blowing their horns for several hours.
The drivers claim the revelations about Haque will further damage their reputation of trust, tarnished after the jailing of serial sex attacker John Worboys this year.
Former taxi driver Worboys, who had been a porn star and stripper, was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting at least 12 women.
Pentonville Road and Penton Place were brought to a standstill during the demonstration yesterday.
About 100 taxi drivers wielded placards saying "No blood on our hands" and shouted "No killers on the Knowledge".
Ken Burns, 63, from Essex, who has been driving taxis for 41 years, said: "For management to get this into their heads, someone is going to have to be murdered. I can't see why this man should be allowed to drive a cab.
"How can a schizophrenic who has killed before be allowed this level of trust?"
Steve Nash, 47, from Covent Garden, who has driven a cab for 20 years, said: "We are the best taxi drivers in the world, but having a killer with a licence will affect all of us."
Ken Flemwell, 55, from East Ham, said: "I was talking to a passenger last night and she was absolutely terrified that someone like that could be driving a black cab."
Reader views (11)
Point is were do we draw the line ?
The mental health act is now allowing us to have convicted killers back on the streets within 3 years here and there. Second chances in life I agree with personally and no man is an island, but a taxi driver should have a history of trust that makes him safe, even if he is declared ok by doctors, he still killed his wife and that makes him unsafe, unless we are black and white with that fact we could have a lot more nutters in black cabs.
- Jordan, great missenden, UK, 03/12/2009 01:48
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Ask yourself how did this ever come about, if it had not been leaked we would have never known.
This is the nanny state at its absolute worst. They ban conkers, run health and safety courses to show people how to use a ladder, but they think that a sick man who killed his wife, who was then freed because they decided he was no longer a threat to society, who then admitted assualting his daughter, is a fit and peoper person to be picking up lone females in the middle of the night on his own.
God save us all from political correctness
- Steve M, LONDON, 03/12/2009 00:48
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Good for them, at least somebody has got some common sense left.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 03/12/2009 00:48
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God forbid, but if anything did happen who would be liable to prosecution or to be sued for employing him with the knowledge of his past crimes......would it be the Public Carriage Office or Transport For London?????????
- Jonny, London, 03/12/2009 00:48
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Sorry people, but not every Schizophrenic is a murderer and not every murderer is a schizophrenic!!!! schizophrenia is a sickness that can be stabilized these days. so if his doctor said he's able to get to work then he is! by the way do you think between these 100 taxi drivers none of them is alcoholic or anti social or has any other pathology that might look harmful to others? The risk is everywhere, you just have to be awake!
- Pascale, Lebanon, 03/12/2009 00:48
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This protest was a national disgrace, and hopefully should represent a low water mark in lack of awareness, discrimination and prejudice against people living with mental disorders. It is clear that the fundamental objection here is this man's experience of mental illness. Notice that he is defined as 'a paranoid schizophrenic'. His illness marks him, literally. Two-thirds of people diagnosed with schizophrenia recover, and have no further significant illness episodes. I take no particular view on this individual case, since I don't know the facts. Neither do the taxi drivers. The responsible authorities are clearly considering the matter very carefully. What I object to, profoundly, is the unreasoning prejudice and nasty tenor of this protest. Shame on the RMT. Shame on those taxi drivers that supported this ugly and intolerant protest. I pondered no longer using black cabs, but have decided that a more appropriate protest would be to use cabs, but to decline to offer any tip. I will inform the driver of my reasons on each occasion. Please, consider joining this campaign.
- Martin Prince, London, 03/12/2009 00:48
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C Nichol - what a nasty rant! I'm assuming you must be an extremely well educated, high flying individual yourself to feel that you can look down on others with such disdain!
Not sure of your sex but I'm guessing from your comments that you wouldn't have a problem with your wife (if your male), mother or daughter getting in a cab late at night with someone who posed such a risk?
As a commuter I'm certainly not the biggest fan of the RMT but, I for one, am deeply grateful that they and these taxi drivers are protesting and bringing this to greater attention.
TFL run adverts telling us to use licensed cabs rather than illegal minicabs for our own safety, seems to me that with this move they aren't really any safer!
- Mandy, London, 03/12/2009 00:48
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As a woman, I agree with Mandy. What is the justification in paying more for a licensed cab if you no longer feel safe using one. I'm glad that there are people protesting.
- Jk, London, 03/12/2009 00:48
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Bah! Humbug! They're only upset because if he succeeds in getting The Knowledge, it will show that not only can any old idiot get this pointless qualification (who needs it in the era of sat-nav) but it can also be attained by murderers and schizophrenics. Business can't be that bad if cabbies can afford to take time off to block the public highway. It's a pity that the traffic police didn't wade in and take note of their numbers and report them for this offence. As for the RMT protesting, aren't they the same lot who regularly bring our rail and underground services to a standstill?
- C.Nichol, London, 03/12/2009 00:48
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So if that is the standard TfL are setting how many other schizophrenic killers have they licensed that we don't know about?
- Mark Myword, London, 03/12/2009 00:48
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can anyone confirm which borough (or boroughs) has licensed him, so we know where might be safe?
- W-Is_Wrong_With_Britain, london uk, 03/12/2009 00:48
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