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Security staff to protect cabbies

8:26pm Friday 9th May 2008

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Security guards are patrolling taxi ranks to help combat racist attacks on African cabbies.

A survey of ethnic minority taxi drivers showed 80% had experienced racist name-calling or other verbal abuse.

Under a scheme run by Brighton and Hove's Sudanese Coptic Association independent drivers have had radio links and CCTV installed in their cabs to help monitor incidents.

Queues at busy central Brighton cab ranks will have a security guard on Friday and Saturday nights for the next three weeks while the pilot scheme is under way.

The moves are part of a study of the extent of attacks on ethnic minority drivers working in taxis and hackney carriages.

The project is funded by a £9,500 grant from Connected Communities Plus, a group promoting racial equality.

The study is expected to run for another two months.

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Your Say YourThe Argus

Major Blyth-Smith, 3rd Foot and Mouth, says...
9:01pm Fri 9 May 08

Now what was Brighton and Hove city councillor David Smith, chairman of culture, recreation and tourism saying about the Rough Guide write up about Brighton... looks to me like they got Brighton spot on.... I'm glad i'm leaving

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nightclubber, poynings says...
10:06pm Fri 9 May 08

I’m a regular in the town centre at weekends and travel home by cab my post code for a unnamed road on the our skirts of Brighton does not work with a sat -nav step 1 queue for taxi 2 get in taxi quite happy 3 Give the driver my destination 3 The driver demands a postcode 4 I tell the driver I will direct him (some times gets me home) 5 a language problem kicks off what is he saying 6 demands post code again and is rude 7 this is the truth it has happened several times to me im not racist but I look for a driver I can communicate with

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bn3, hangoolia says...
10:19pm Fri 9 May 08

this seems to be a bit wrong-surely all cabbies deserve the same protection.integrati
on does not seem to be important ,more each to their own,a bit like the bnp?

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caeos, says...
10:43pm Fri 9 May 08

Under the race descrimintaion act i expect all taxi drivers demand equal security guards, the same as the bus drivers would do if police took their complaints seriously.

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Cab user, Brighton says...
1:52am Sat 10 May 08

I think this is a good idea. I mean ok it should be there for the protection of all taxi drivers but at least its better for us users at the rank. And lets not forget these security officers are only at the rank. I saw one last weekend and he was very polite and helpful, we had queued for 30 minutes and someone tried to jump in our cab, he was politely referred to the back of the queue. This is good for this if nothign else. Also there was a small fight which broke out and we were watching, all of a sudden these two 'mobile support units' as they are called turned up and some more men jumper out and resolved it very quickly, im scpetical overall but for those of us using the rank it seems a decent enough thing.

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sue, Hove says...
7:25am Sat 10 May 08

£9,500 sounds an awful lot of money. It should be for all taxi drivers. I prefer a taxi driver who speaks english as I lip read. It is essential so that I can communicate with the taxi driver and that he charges me a fair price.

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S.T. Rewth, Brighton says...
7:30am Sat 10 May 08

Security Officers should be paid for by the taxi companies. They have been needed for years at some of the ranks to protect everyone.

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Frequent Cab User, Otherside of the Downs says...
7:33am Sat 10 May 08

I will frequently turn up on a fri/sat night at a busy rank and wait for an english cab driver. Not because i'm a racist but because they will always willingly put it on the meter. The foreign drivers often try and screw as much money as they can out of you by charging flat fees and what ever extras they feel like adding on! Some people stupidly pay this because it's late and all they want to do is get home to bed. I've been asked for £40+ for a 20 min journey I know all to well will cost £20 on the meter. Until they start operating in the same way as the rest of the cabs on the road of course they're going to get verbal abuse!

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kayte, brighton says...
8:34am Sat 10 May 08

i got in a cab one night, and the driver did not understand where i wanted to go, and he then refused to put on his seat belt, so i made him stop the car and i got out, i did not pay for the 200 yards he went, but he then started to understand english, I did not feel safe in the car with him, it was not racist, just a matter of safety, Why are the taxi drivers allowed to operate taxis, in this way,

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liz, brighton says...
8:38am Sat 10 May 08

when you get into a cab, and the driver does not understand you, in the UK, its a bit much, and then they try to charge you double, without the meter on ! If the security guards are going to protect us, they should make sure that the meter goes on before the start of the journey. I have had so many bad experiences with cab drivers in brighton, that i would wait 20 minutes to find the right one. Its not racial, its self safety and , we have the right to do that, I dont understand why companies employ people who do not know the local ways of a country, and at the same time try to rip us off. This will backfire on the sudanese , and show them up for what they are really doing

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Rhinofish, Hove says...
8:50am Sat 10 May 08

kayte wrote:
i got in a cab one night, and the driver did not understand where i wanted to go, and he then refused to put on his seat belt, so i made him stop the car and i got out, i did not pay for the 200 yards he went, but he then started to understand english, I did not feel safe in the car with him, it was not racist, just a matter of safety, Why are the taxi drivers allowed to operate taxis, in this way,
Taxi drivers are exempt from wearing seat-belts!

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garza, worthing says...
9:08am Sat 10 May 08

if i was a taxi driver in africa would they give me the protection . i would think not. another big waste of manpower and money

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garza, worthing says...
9:12am Sat 10 May 08

how sad is this? security guards for sudanese???

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Me, Lancing says...
9:40am Sat 10 May 08

Frequent Cab User wrote:
I will frequently turn up on a fri/sat night at a busy rank and wait for an english cab driver. Not because i\'m a racist but because they will always willingly put it on the meter. The foreign drivers often try and screw as much money as they can out of you by charging flat fees and what ever extras they feel like adding on! Some people stupidly pay this because it\'s late and all they want to do is get home to bed. I\'ve been asked for £40+ for a 20 min journey I know all to well will cost £20 on the meter. Until they start operating in the same way as the rest of the cabs on the road of course they\'re going to get verbal abuse!
Same experience, my wife and i have been ripped off a few times by the arab drivers. I hate racism but im afraid this. We complained to the taxi firm and got nowhere. Now we call a taxi direct and will not use the ranks. Fee confirmed on the phone prior to pick up. A longer wait but no rip of £40 fair for a £22 journey.

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Joe B, Brighton says...
10:04am Sat 10 May 08

And what about all the other cabbies? Reversed racism again!

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garza, worthing says...
10:18am Sat 10 May 08

you're completely right joe. no wonder this countrys going to the dogs.

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James, Hove says...
11:33am Sat 10 May 08

If you get into a cab that you hail on the street or pick up at a rank, they must put the meter on. Its the law. If not take their 3 digit number (side or back of cab) & tell the Council, they take that sort of stuff quite serious. If you phone and book a private hire, they can legally charge whatever they want, so ask them to either put on the meter or agree a fare before you start.

Taxi Marshals work well in many of the major cities and everyone seems to think they are a good idea for Friday & Saturday nights. The only issue is who should pay for them? Council? Taxi firms? Community Safety Partnerships?

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macca, brighton says...
11:39am Sat 10 May 08

for gods sake you know what to do . dont get into the cab await for a cab driver that can speak your tounge,or walk home.that is it short and sweet.stop whinging

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Policing on the cheap, hove says...
12:14pm Sat 10 May 08

all we need in B&H more vigilantes. Policing on the cheap yet again. we have "security" guards "walking with menaces" in the laines areas, now we have "loitering with intent" at cab ranks. They have no authority what so ever in a public place, only on private premises. We need to insist the police the job they are paid for and stop all this rubbish of having not enough cash and trying to pass on the responsibility to others.

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Terry Walpole, Queens Park says...
1:13pm Sat 10 May 08

Thank you Nu-Labor for your open-door immigration policy for now we have in B&H a great big 'Melting Pot' where everyone just rubs along fine regardless of colour or ethnicity. Britain truly is a 'Rainbow Nation' and a beacon of hope and tolerance for all.

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bobby bigalls, brighton says...
1:19pm Sat 10 May 08

Terry Walpole wrote:
Thank you Nu-Labor for your open-door immigration policy for now we have in B&H a great big 'Melting Pot' where everyone just rubs along fine regardless of colour or ethnicity. Britain truly is a 'Rainbow Nation' and a beacon of hope and tolerance for all.
I think you mean nuke-labour - and we have absolutely nothing to thank them for. Thank goodness they'll be gone in 18 months.

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S.T. Rewth, Brighton says...
1:33pm Sat 10 May 08

It is my understanding that if you buy a hackney plate you still need to pass a test on where streets are. If these drivers do not know they may not be the plate owner.

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Seasider 1, Brighton says...
1:38pm Sat 10 May 08

White Brighton born meter using non sat-nav cabbies also get the same abuse. Can we have a grant for security as well??!!

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mike, HOVE says...
1:45pm Sat 10 May 08

Well, interesting to read the comments of the racist and bigoted who are my neighbours here in brighton / hove. I love the ones who always say "Im not racist, but...." um, yes, you really are.... I cant believe no ones posted to protest the majority of these ignorant comments!! Guess thats the price I pay for living in this town. I sincerely hope the ARGUS MODERATOR will be removing a number of these comments. They should put you all in a pit with a pint of beer / girl to "claim", and let you kick each other to pieces arguing over her in your gorilla half brained fashion. Youd probably think you were just "being a real man" Hows this - IF YOU DONT LIKE THE FACT FOREIGNERS ARE ALLOWED INTO THIS COUNTRY, WHY DONT YOU LEAVE YOURSELVES? Go on!! Make everyone elses life better, then we wouldnt have to patiently explain to you in your own simple words "Wy it aint kool 2 beets peeepls up" PLEASE, leave NOW... Oh, and stop rutting anything not nailed down - we dont need you bringing any more mini thugs into this town.

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idiots, suck says...
3:31pm Sat 10 May 08

mike wrote:
Well, interesting to read the comments of the racist and bigoted who are my neighbours here in brighton / hove. I love the ones who always say "Im not racist, but...." um, yes, you really are.... I cant believe no ones posted to protest the majority of these ignorant comments!! Guess thats the price I pay for living in this town. I sincerely hope the ARGUS MODERATOR will be removing a number of these comments. They should put you all in a pit with a pint of beer / girl to "claim", and let you kick each other to pieces arguing over her in your gorilla half brained fashion. Youd probably think you were just "being a real man" Hows this - IF YOU DONT LIKE THE FACT FOREIGNERS ARE ALLOWED INTO THIS COUNTRY, WHY DONT YOU LEAVE YOURSELVES? Go on!! Make everyone elses life better, then we wouldnt have to patiently explain to you in your own simple words "Wy it aint kool 2 beets peeepls up" PLEASE, leave NOW... Oh, and stop rutting anything not nailed down - we dont need you bringing any more mini thugs into this town.
Do you actually have any real life experience with taxi's in B+H ?

Im pretty sure for most people this has nothing to do with things like race and skin colour,its about the public not wanting to get blatantly ripped off and treated badly when they take a cab ride,and wether you like it or not,the fact is a lot of the worst offending cabbies appear to be from overseas!

I dislike the racism here a great deal,but sometimes the facts just dont fit into the racial harmony fantasy that some of us would like to beleive.

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garza, worthing says...
3:53pm Sat 10 May 08

mike from hove youre a complete an utter fool.comes out with everybody a racist who has a view on something like this.

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JJ, Hove says...
5:07pm Sat 10 May 08

mike wrote:
Well, interesting to read the comments of the racist and bigoted who are my neighbours here in brighton / hove. I love the ones who always say "Im not racist, but...." um, yes, you really are.... I cant believe no ones posted to protest the majority of these ignorant comments!! Guess thats the price I pay for living in this town. I sincerely hope the ARGUS MODERATOR will be removing a number of these comments. They should put you all in a pit with a pint of beer / girl to "claim", and let you kick each other to pieces arguing over her in your gorilla half brained fashion. Youd probably think you were just "being a real man" Hows this - IF YOU DONT LIKE THE FACT FOREIGNERS ARE ALLOWED INTO THIS COUNTRY, WHY DONT YOU LEAVE YOURSELVES? Go on!! Make everyone elses life better, then we wouldnt have to patiently explain to you in your own simple words "Wy it aint kool 2 beets peeepls up" PLEASE, leave NOW... Oh, and stop rutting anything not nailed down - we dont need you bringing any more mini thugs into this town.
Don't you just hate it when you get accused of being a racist just because you are not getting the service you are paying a good sum of money for? Perhaps you should actually use the taxi service that is currently on offer in this city before you pass judgement on others.

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