Taxi drivers' plea over attacks and robberies

Mahrouf Hussain, chairman of Middlesbrough Hackney Carriage Association, is urging police to act

Taxi drivers are calling for stronger police action after suffering "years" of violence and robbery.

Drivers working in Middlesbrough said they face regular attacks and anti-social behaviour.

Several spoke to the BBC and shared stories of bricks being thrown at their vehicles, windows smashed and drivers robbed.

Cleveland Police said it had made extensive enquiries into recent reports and given drivers "crime prevention advice".

One driver, who did not want to be named, said the problem is getting worse.

He claimed some neighbourhoods could become "no go areas" for taxi drivers, who use WhatsApp to warn each other of potential dangers.

"When we're going into areas like Park End or Hemlington, there are kids throwing stones, all our cars are getting damaged," he said.

"Just yesterday, I heard that a taxi driver was robbed in broad daylight.

"We are all concerned."

'Gangs of lads'

Others reported an increase in robberies and regularly having bricks and stones thrown at their cars.

Vehicles then have to be taken off the road for days at a time, leaving drivers unable to work.

Mahrouf Hussain, the chairman of Middlesbrough Hackney Carriage Association, has called on the police to do more to help protect the livelihood of taxi drivers.

"After drivers finish their Saturday night shift, they're parking up and getting gangs of lads riding on bikes breaking their driver side window, looking for money," he said.

"The police can't do anything because they're not at the scene and by the time they get there, [the gang] has gone.

"We need the police. They could at least come out and tell the drivers they're going to do something to look out for them.

"We've provided CCTV footage and we can't do anything more than that."

'We're frustrated'

Mr Hussain said insurance costs are also being driven up.

"We're frustrated. It's happening almost every weekend and it's bad enough doing 12-hour shifts," he added.

"It's the last thing you want, someone coming and breaking in, even though there's no money let in the car.

"We don't leave any money or valuables in the car."

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said the force had made arrests after receiving recent reports of crime and anti-social behaviour directed towards taxi drivers and their vehicles.

One man has been questioned and is currently on bail in relation to several alleged offences.

"We continue to carry out targeted patrols in affected areas and give drivers crime prevention advice."

Where crimes have already happened and there is no footage or identified suspect, the force will provide a crime reference number for victims to pass to insurers, the spokeswoman added.