Taxi drivers reject police plea to inform on breakers of rule of six

TAXI drivers have reacted with anger after a police force asked them to “snitch” on passengers they suspected of breaching lockdown rules.

A letter issued by West Mercia Police to an estimated 300 licensed taxi drivers in Herefordshire has called for drivers to report any incidents of people breaching the rule of six.

Taxi services and industry representatives have criticised the proposal, warning it will place drivers in an “uncomfortable” financial predicament and at greater risk of violent attacks from passengers.

Dave Lawrie, director of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association, said attacks on drivers have already increased during the pandemic with many feeling under pressure to ask that their passengers wear a face mask.

Mr Lawrie said: “I am painfully aware of the number of attacks that are carried out on drivers on a daily and weekly basis. I don’t think it is a good idea to ask taxi drivers to report people breaching Covid regulations, because, if they do that, they are leaving themselves wide open to counter-attack and people coming back to them.

“Taxi drivers already have enough responsibilities and burdens on them, they are not enforcement officers.”

Under current Government guidelines, breaches of the rule of six are punishable with a £200 fine.

Taxi drivers in Herefordshire have warned the request will place employees in an “uncomfortable predicament” as they run the risk of alienating their customer base. Jon Dallow, director of Hereford’s largest operator, Blue Line

Taxis, said: “If they [drivers] inform people of having parties when they drop somebody off, I imagine it would put them in a predicament and make them feel uncomfortable.”

However, others have welcomed the move. Herefordshire Conservative councillor Paul Rone, who is group chairman of the county’s taxi co-operative, said: “We’re all members of society, we’ve all got responsibilities. There is no good blaming ‘big government’ ... Youngsters do seem to think it doesn’t affect them. It’s not sort of snitching, it’s just making sure people comply with the rules and the laws.”

Questioned on the reasoning behind the letter, Chief Inspector Edd Williams from West Mercia Police said: “Due to their line of work, taxi drivers are likely to have information relating to significant breaches of Covid-19 regulations.

“Therefore it was jointly agreed that we would encourage professional drivers to report breaches such as large parties, mass gatherings and raves.”

‘They are leaving themselves wide open to counter-attack – they are not enforcement officers’