Further concerns about taxi drivers throughout Fife becoming the victims of assault or fraud have been raised following suggestions it happens on a weekly basis in some areas.
The Courier revealed earlier this month how Fife Licensing Board had launched an investigation into an apparent increase in the number of operators on the receiving end of such crimes, amid fears drivers were not reporting incidents.
The focus has fallen on Levenmouth in particular, with local taxi operators revealing the issue of passengers assaulting drivers or ‘doing a runner’ without paying their fare has become a problem.
Pete Meldrum, of Magnum Taxis, has highlighted the escalating problem to licensing chiefs in the region and has urged all victims to come forward to help catch the culprits.
“Taxi fraud is now a weekly occurrence and in the months of November and December it spiralled with all Levenmouth companies affected,” he said.
“There is a certain element of the public who believe that if they fail to pay a taxi then it is no big deal as the worst thing that will happen is that the police may catch up with them and as long as they pay the police then the problem goes away and they think this because that is reality.
“The police and the procurator fiscal have allowed this situation to get worse because they do not view taxi fraud with any seriousness.
“We do not need the police to be our debt collectors, we need them and the procurator fiscals to do their job and treat the culprits of taxi fraud the same way they would treat a shoplifter or a pickpocket.”
The Courier revealed earlier this month how some Fife victims had taken the decision not to report crimes against them, either through embarrassment, a perception the matter would not be taken seriously or the potential loss of income on busy nights through the process of reporting incidents.
Many taxi drivers said they have now taken to asking for money up front.
Donald Jenks, licensing enforcement officer, stressed Fife Council and Police Scotland are treating the issues extremely seriously.
“When an operator raised this with us we wanted to try to find out if this was a widespread issue or an isolated local issue,” he explained.
“Taxi operators are carrying out a very important service and they should be able to do their job without the fear of theft or assault.
“We would encourage all operators to report any such instances to the police and us.
“Fife Council licensing team work closely with Police Scotland Fife Division to ensure such reports from the taxi trade are investigated appropriately.”
Police Scotland has also encouraged all victims of crime to report instances of assault or theft by calling either 999 in an emergency or 101.
