Predator drivers: Sex complaints soar against taxi, rideshare firms
Sexual complaints about taxi and rideshare drivers have surged over the past five years and police are warning of emerging cases of fake drivers preying on unsuspecting passengers.
Predatory drivers are also reportedly seeking intimate favours for lower fares.
“We are starting to see some complaints where the victim thinks they are getting into an Uber but it’s not,” says Detective Superintendent Scott Beard, the head of Auckland city’s police adult sexual assault team.
In one case, a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted.
Uber says it’s aware of media reports around the world of fake drivers and urges customers to use safety features on the Uber app to ensure their driver is authentic.
Figures released to the Herald by transport agency Waka Kotahi show there were 22 sexual complaints in 2016 and 14 in 2017.
But with the rise of rideshare apps and easier reporting systems and an increase in smaller, independent operators operating under fewer regulations, the number of sexual complaints has been far higher in subsequent years – 37 in 2018, 83 in 2019, 49 in
2020, 75 in 2021, 64 in 2022, and
43 so far this year.
“There is no doubt we are seeing an increase in complaints, particularly of a sexual nature,” Beard said.
He said police were also hearing of drivers offering to reduce the fare if, for example, the passenger would let the driver kiss them.
It was unfair, he said, to label all drivers as sexual predators; there were bad apples in any industry. “But we do get complaints of a sexual nature, and we have charged people.”
Police H in the Auckland City district had dealt with about a dozen complaints involving taxis and rideshare companies this year.
Often complainants were intoxicated, and by themselves, Beard said.
Passengers should sit in the back seat to create a barrier and, wherever possible, travel with a companion.
Beard believed the rise of the #MeToo movement meant people were more aware of bad behaviour and boundary crossing. There was more awareness of and willingness to report sexual violence.
The Small Passenger Service
Association (formerly the Taxi Federation) wants to see more rules re-introduced into the industry including greater regulatory oversight of taxi firms.
Waka Kotahi has also released figures showing 342 drivers with passenger endorsement licences (taxis, buses, rideshare operators) have had those licences revoked or suspended between 2018 and 2022.
While the agency did not have a breakdown on the type of offending that had led to the suspension or revocation of licences, “In practice the majority
. . . relate to serious or repeat offending, including assault, sexual offending or careless/dangerous driving,” said a spokesman.
An Ola driver was last month convicted of two indecent assault charges against female passengers and unsuccessfully sought name suppression and a discharge without conviction.
Sajid Mehmood, 50, picked up a young woman in Auckland city at 12.30am on December 31, 2021, and encouraged her into the front seat. She declined, and sat in the back.
“The defendant then said, ‘You look very nice,’ and, ‘Nice perfume’,” according to an agreed summary of facts for the case. “Feeling uncomfortable at the comments being made, the victim began recording live Instagram posts.” Mehmood reached for her hand at the end of the trip, and then pulled the woman towards him with the comment ‘Can I?’, the court heard.
“No,” the woman said.
Ten days later, Mehmood touched a woman’s knee as she sat in the front seat during a 4am trip, on the pretence the fabric of her skirt was similar to garments worn in his native Pakistan. He then ran his hand up her leg.
Judge Kevin Phillips rejected Mehmood’s bid for a discharge without conviction and name suppression.
“People get into these vehicles trusting the drivers,” he said.
“Your remorse, to me, is entirely questionable,” Judge Phillips told the court, describing the two women as being in vulnerable situations.
“It has majorly impacted upon their feelings of safety . . . and trust of rideshare drivers.”
One of Mehmood’s victims also opposed suppression.
“His disgusting actions have affected every part of my life,” the woman wrote. “I did not ask for this. I did not deserve this. And I will not stand for this.
“I should have been safe. His passengers should have been safe.”
Efforts to contact Ola for comment have been unsuccessful.
An Uber spokesperson said 99.9 per cent of all Uber rides were completed safely.
“The bad news is that sexual harassment pervades every industry and every community globally — and rideshare and other transport modes are no exception.
“Unlike other modes of transport, Uber prompts riders and driver-partners for feedback after every trip. We not only offer multiple ways for people to report issues to us, we encourage people to report, which we believe is crucial given how under-reported sexual harassment is.”
The spokesperson said any reports of sexual misconduct or assault were acted on immediately.
“Access to the app is immediately suspended while our specialist team investigates.
“If we have information that a rider or driver has perpetrated a sexual assault we permanently deactivate them from Uber. We also provide reporting parties with information to give to the police, if they choose to report, and resources to get help.”
In cases where people were pretending to be Uber drivers, the spokesperson highlighted safety features on the Uber app such as ‘Verify my ride’ — a four-digit pin code provided to the rider which the driver must verify and enter for the trip to start.
“Aside from this, we always send a pre-trip notification reminding riders to check the driver’s photo and license number before getting into the car.”
We do get complaints of a sexual nature, and we have charged people.
Scott Beard