Cabbie calls for CCTV in taxis (From Echo)

Cabbie calls for CCTV in taxis

1:16pm Wednesday 14th February 2007 in News By Paul Offord

A cabbie, left bloodied and beaten by a customer, has called for CCTV cameras to be put in all taxis.

Kevin Woods, 43, of Paprills, Basildon, was repeatedly punched in the face in the early hours of Saturday morning by a man he had just dropped off in Wallace Drive, Wickford.

He was left with a badly cut left eye and bruises all over his face and needed emergency treatment at Basildon Hospital.

Mr Woods, who was badly shaken by the attack, said: "He paid for his fare. I looked down to put the coins away and the next thing I knew he started punching me in the head.

"After the initial shock, I managed to come to my senses and block a few of his punches, and he ran away in the end. I was badly cut and blood was running down my face."

The incident has raised fears for the safety of cabbies.

Mr Wood said: "It makes me so angry. We're trying to earn an honest living, but people see us as easy targets.

"I've thought about putting a camera of my own in my taxi since the attack, but it would be better if there was a CCTV system for everyone."

He said customers seemed to be getting increasingly violent, especially when drunk at weekends.

The attack on Mr Woods follows a spate of robberies last year by knife-wielding thieves who forced cabbies to hand over takings and, in some cases, carjacked their taxis.

Basildon Council says it is considering a CCTV system for taxi drivers, with the council and cabbies sharing the cost.

* The attacker was white, aged between 20 and 25, of medium build, and wore blue jeans with a brown or black leather jacket.

Anyone with information can call police on 01268 532212 or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.