MENTIONING MARSHALS
BRIGHTON DRIVERS WANT TAXI MARSHAL RETHINK
Cab drivers have called for councillors to find funding to help keep them and their passengers safe. Brighton and Hove’s taxi marshals took part in their last patrol a couple of months ago after their funding ran out. Taxi drivers are calling on Brighton and Hove City Council to pay to reinstate the system.
John Streeter, vice- chairman of Brighton and Hove Streamline Taxis, said marshals would be badly missed.
He told the Brighton Argus: “In an ideal world we would like police to be there. The marshals don’t solve everything but the drivers are grateful for
their presence.” Mr Streeter said that the taxi trade would not be in a position to pay for the marshals because of the upcoming costly obli- gation to install CCTV in their cabs.
The scheme began in December 2009 thanks to a Home Office grant of £5,000 which paid for four security guards to patrol West Street and East Street taxi ranks in Brighton between midnight and 4am on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
The marshals were equipped with radios to link them up to police CCTV opera- tors, police officers and other security firms.
Ben Duncan, the council’s cabinet member for communi- ties and community safety, said: “This decision was taken last November by the licensing committee and one of the things the new administration of the council is com- mitted to is getting the taxi marshal service up and running again. “We are exploring funding opportunities and in discussions with our partners, the police and the taxi trade, to try to find a way of getting them back on the streets as soon as possible.” Sergeant Peter Castle- ton, of Sussex Police, said money would be found to continue the scheme.
LIVERPOOL TAXI MARSHAL SCHEME AT RISK
A taxi marshals service credited with cutting city centre night time violence could end unless emergency funding can be found. The marshals, who patrol two ranks on weekend nights, have only been in place a year.
If the scheme is to con- tinue to run it faces a shortfall of £8,000. But city bosses said it can only meet the shortfall if taxi drivers contribute towards the cost. However, cabbies said they did not believe it was for them to pay for the service, given that they already contribute cash for enforcement officers through their licence fees.
A report that was to go before the council’s
licensing committee warns that funding cuts are already hav- ing an impact on the service, leading to the withdrawal of regular police support.
While actual figures for the reduction in taxi-related crime are not available, surveys taken by council staff have found that: “89 per cent of people feel safe at taxi ranks after 10pm, which is slightly up on previous years, and it is likely that the taxi marshals who operate from the ranks in Victoria Street and Hanover Street have contributed to this rise in a feeling of safety.” Taxi drivers’ spokes- man Tommy Mclntyre told the Liverpool Echo: “We have the
same stance now that we did when it was first proposed. We pay a lot of money each year for enforcement officers. Two have gone in the past 12 months but they’ve not taken anyone else on. “We pay enough, so why do we have to pay for a private contractor as well? This year, it’s £8,000, but what will it be next time?”
The total cost of the service is £37,000 a year to run.
Cllr Christine Banks, chair of the licensing committee, said it was for members of the committee to agree what steps to take, adding: “It’s a good service. It’s a question of where the extra £8,000 comes from.”
When you think HTC think TURN ON YOUR MOBILE
HTC Repair/Reycling Centre
• LCD, Charging Block, Software, Liquid • Corporate Account Facilities • Recycling of working - non working HTC’s • Used HTC’s sold • Wholesale Accessories
Preferred supplier of software companies like Cordic etc... CALL MARK ON
07789 7555 04
Company Reg No 04572172 VAT No: 8394129 07
PAGE 42
or email:
info@turnonyourmobile.com
www.htcrepairs.co.uk
281 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1SD PHTM AUGUST 2011
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
