IN THE NEWS
OLDHAM’S TAXI MARSHALS ARE SUSPENDED AFTER BBC’S ‘PANORAMA’
Oldham’s acclaimed taxi marshal scheme is under threat after two men were spotted viciously brawling in a BBC programme. Council chiefs have suspended the securi- ty firm that provides them while it investi- gates whether the thugs were officials. August 10th’s “Panorama” threw the spotlight on the town’s binge-drinking culture and what is being done to tackle it. Among the fighting filmed on Yorkshire Street was a shocking scene showing two men dressed in flores- cent yellow jackets involved in a brawl with several youths. One of the men head- butts a youth and grapples with him. He’s
kicked on the floor before he and a sec- ond man trade punches and kicks with up to eight youths. The second man delivers a devastating punch to one youth who appears to be trying to calm the situation.
At first it was denied that the men were taxi marshals but Oldham Councillor Mark Alcock later said: “The security company that the council sub-con- tracts to provide taxi marshals has carried out its own investiga- tion and dealt with the matter according to their procedures. “Oldham Council does not tolerate violence of any description and if we do find that taxi marshals have acted outside the law then
we will end our associ- ation with this firm.” The taxi marshal scheme, introduced to Yorkshire Street in April, 2006, was hailed a resounding success after the number of skirmishes between drinkers plummeted. Two years ago the team was nominated for a Pride in Oldham award. “Panorama” highlight- ed disturbing statistics showing a 200 per cent increase in vio- lent crime in Yorkshire Street in the first four months of the year. But it also highlighted Oldham’s attempts to tackle the problem by becoming the first town in the UK to intro- duce strict new rules in bars selling cheap drinks.
BOURNEMOUTH CABBIES FUMING OVER SUSPENDED SENTENCE
Cabbies are fuming after a man who threat- ened a Bournemouth cabbie with a kitchen knife in a drunken argument over a £10 fare was given a sus- pended sentence. Steven Flynn threat- ened United Taxis driver, Keith Lickman, 50, after the driver asked for the fare, Bournemouth Crown Court heard. Ashley Miller, chairman of Bournemouth Taxi and Private Hire Asso- ciation, told the Bournemouth Daily Echo: “If they don’t jail them there’s no deter- rent.”
Prosecutor Desmond Duffy told the court that Flynn was picked up by United Taxis driver Keith Lickman in the early hours of April 10. When
they reached Flynn’s home the cabbie asked for the £10 fare. Flynn went into the house, then asked Mr Lick- man to take £5. There was a brief dispute before Mr Flynn pulled out a knife, saying: “It’s five pounds or you get this.”
Mr Lickman handed over £5 in return for the £10 note then called the police, who arrest- ed Flynn at his home where two kitchen knives were seized. Sentencing Flynn, who admitted having a bladed article in a pub- lic place, Recorder Coleman told him: “Mr Lickman was only doing his job and is entitled to receive the protection of these courts against such drunken, yobbish and
violent behaviour. “For any offence involving a knife used in a public place the starting point is going to be custody.”
Imposing a nine-month prison sentence, sus- pended for 18 months, Recorder Coleman said he had taken into account Flynn’s remorse, guilty plea and previous good character. He ordered 20-year-old Flynn to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, observe a three-month curfew and pay £1,000 com- pensation to his victim. Speaking afterwards Mr Miller said: “We’re far from happy. The courts should come down on the side of the taxi driver and jail anybody who threat- ens them with a knife.”
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