Taxi campaign aims to reduce night time disputes

The council and police have funded the production of stickers – which will be put on display in private hire vehicles – to forewarn passengers that journeys taken between 7pm and 7am will require payment on entry to the vehicle.

The initiative has come about after feedback from the taxi trade revealed that their major issues came about when they were transporting passengers who argued over the fare.

Sergeant Chris Munro, of West Mercia Police, said: “It seemed obvious as a result that the best solution was to cut the problem off at source.

“If taxi drivers take the fare up front, it reduces the opportunity for any argument over the fare or for the passengers to make off without paying. Both private hire drivers and passengers know what the fare will be as the journey is pre-booked.

“By asking for the fare on entry to the vehicle, this will reduce the number of incidents between passengers and drivers and also reduce the number of calls from taxis to the police – normally at a time when officers are already very busy.”

Telford & Wrekin Council and West Mercia Police have got money from the community safety fund for the production of 1,000 stickers to distribute among the private hire trade for display in their vehicles.

Councillor Hilda Rhodes, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Transport and Community Protection, said: “The aim of this is to make journeys smoother and safer for both the driver and their customers and also to relieve pressure on the police at their busiest times of day.

“The stickers will forewarn passengers that they will have to pay for their fare up front when they get in the vehicle at night and this should reduce disputes and prevent people from making off without paying.

“We have worked together with West Mercia Police and the private hire trade to develop this initiative which is very much in keeping with our ethos as a co-operative council.”