Taxi safety campaign launched (From Daily Echo)

Taxi safety campaign launched

5:13pm Friday 28th September 2007 in

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HAMPSHIRE Police have launched a personal safety campaign for cabbies in the wake of the callous attack on Eastleigh taxi driver Derek Fletcher.

The 52-year-old was strangled and set alight by a passenger in Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh on May 21.

His injuries left him hospitalised for six weeks while he received intensive treatment for burns to his body. His attacker is still at large.

Now officers from the Western Operational Command Unit (OCU) are launching a personal safety campaign for taxi and private hire drivers, to help raise awareness of the potential dangers they might face when they are working.

The initiative has been driven by Test Valley Crime Prevention Officer Melody Manning who felt something needed to be done following the assault on Mr Fletcher.

A Personal Safety Advice card has been produced for all taxi and private hire drivers which is to be circulated across the force area.

It provides important safety tips to help minimise the risks a taxi driver might face when picking up, driving and dropping off passengers.

Inspector Peter Funnell, Safer Streets lead for the Western Operational Command Unit said: "Fortunately, more serious attacks on taxi drivers is a rare occurrence but the attack on Derek Fletcher shows the vulnerability of taxi drivers, particularly at night and in the early hours."