Taxi drivers ask to drop signage following abuse

Taxi drivers in Sheffield claim to have been verbally abused and had objects thrown

Taxi drivers in Sheffield have appealed to the council to let drivers temporarily remove identifiable signage on their car doors to prevent them being targeted by far-right demonstrators.

Nasar Raoof, the taxi trade representative for the GMB Union in Yorkshire, said some Asian drivers have faced verbal abuse during the last two weeks and had their cars pelted with stones.

He said drivers should be able to temporarily remove the signage on vehicle doors to prevent them being targeted.

Sheffield City Council said there were currently no plans to make changes to its policy.

"One of our members reported that a stone was thrown at their vehicle when they had an NHS worker they were transporting from a care home back to the Hallamshire Hospital. They had broken glass in their lap," Mr Raoof said.

"This discussion was purely to request the council to remove the door signage on the sides of the vehicle that readily makes it noticeable from a distance."

Sheffield City Council’s current policy requires both the front and rear doors on taxis have visible signage to show the vehicle is for private hire.

The policy reads: "Door signage affixed to the front doors must be the design approved by the licensing authority, be securely attached, contain the council crest, the words ‘Advanced Booking Only’ and ‘Private Hire Vehicle’ and the vehicle licence number.

"Door signage affixed to the rear doors must be the design of the licensing authority, be securely fixed and contain the name of the operator(s) along with contact information – phone number or app details."

Councillor Joe Otten, of the council's waste and street scene policy committee said:

“We have carefully considered this issue and sought guidance from South Yorkshire Police as to the level of risk currently posed in Sheffield and to taxi drivers and, as a result, there are no plans to make changes to our taxi licensing policy at this stage."

Mr Otten said the council would continue to closely monitor the situation and would revisit its approach accordingly should any new information or intelligence come to light.

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