STAND AGAINST RACISM ‘NORMAL’ THAT THEY SUFFER IN SILENCE SAYS REPORT
• Better support for drivers from councils, taxi and private hire firms and the police
• Licensing authorities should take far more seriously the racist abuse of taxi and private hire drivers and support the drivers to take the appropriate action against the perpetrators
• Licensing authorities should provide an easy way for drivers to report such incidents
• Drivers should be assigned a Link Officer within the local authority to make reporting easier and provide support
The regularity of the abuse means that some drivers suffer the equivalent of ‘battle fatigue’, with psychological and physical symptoms.
Sajid Mahmood, a Birmingham drivers’ representative and a taxi driver for 23 years, said:
“Taxi drivers are seen as low. There is a lack of recognition of us being human so we lack human rights. Everyone looks down on us.
“Added to that is the fact that a large number of us are minority backgrounds. So we get treated as low. When we are called P*** or face institutional racism, that is obviously to do with our ethnic minority status.
“They don’t mince words; whatever comes to their mind they use it, including racist words.”
He said often drivers don’t report incidents because of the lengthy time involved in filling in forms, making statements, and always thinking the perpetrators won’t likely be traced anyway.
“And the non reporting means the perpetrators get away with their undesirable behaviour.”
Dr Iqbal says the stage has been set for racism to flourish against taxi and private hire drivers, born out of their perceived ‘low status’ and because they are isolated.
In Birmingham, the vast majority of drivers are Asian (86%) with the majority being Pakistani, says the report.
Report Recommendations
The reports makes a string of recommendations, including: JULY 2021
“If it is not reported to us, we can’t investigate, so we encourage anyone who experiences hate crime to tell us.”
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Raja Amin, from taxi drivers’ union the RMT, said that drivers were ‘vulnerable’ and that often frustrated customers who were angry about something else in their lives, or after drinking, would take it out on the drivers.
• Create a national racial abuse offender register, with perpetrators banned from using private hire or taxi services anywhere
• Passengers who perpetuate racism should be required to attend a racism awareness course
• All taxis and private hire vehicles should be equipped with CCTV, and should be financially supported by their local authorities.
• Passengers should be warned that the evidence gathered through the CCTV in suspected abuse cases will be used against them in the courts.
A West Midlands police spokesperson urged anyone who experienced a hate incident or crime to always report it to officers.
The spokesperson said:
“We understand that experiencing a hate crime is extremely distressing and upsetting. We are proud to police our diverse communities and will take action against those who commit a hate crime.
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