‘Give us more help’ say town taxi drivers

Dec 18 2008 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

‘Give us more help’ say town taxi drivers

TAXI drivers have called for more protection after yet another attack on a cabbie.

Mohammed Afzal Nadeem suffered cuts and bruises to his face, head, arm and ribs when he was set upon in Huddersfield town centre in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The father-of-five, 50, will now miss three potentially profitable weeks of work in the run-up to the busiest time of year for taxi drivers.

Makhan Singh, of Kirklees Hackney Carriage Association, said: “It’s happening a lot more frequently and drivers are becoming more and more afraid.

“They are just trying to do their job, to earn a living and I don’t feel we are getting the support we need from the police.

“Christmas is the busiest time of year and we need to be able to do our jobs without fear.”

Hackney cab driver Mr Nadeem, of Springwood, had turned off the ring road onto Queen Street when he was confronted by two men standing in the middle of the road.