Colchester taxi driver is assaulted by a passenger

The cabbie was driving the passenger home in Colchester when they became “very agitated and aggressive”.

The driver was punched in the face, verbally abused and had his wing mirror broken during the ugly incident at the weekend.

The fare reportedly refused to leave the taxi and so had to be taken back to the city centre where other cabbies could step in to help.

Back-up - taxi drivers had to help the cabbie get the aggressive passenger out of his vehicle (Image: Newsquest)

Dave Harris, who is the chairman of Colchester Council’s licensing committee, which hands out taxi licences, called for tougher action against nightmare passengers.

He said: “The driver reported this incident to the police but sadly he has not had any feedback yet.

“Taxi drivers provide a much-needed service and do not deserve to be treated in this way when in public carrying out their job.

“The days of taking risks when working should be long gone and I condemn any actions against taxi drivers, health workers, bus drivers, police officers and others.”

Call for action - Colchester Council’s licensing committee chairman Dave Harris (Image: Newsquest)

“As licensing committee chairman I ask stiffer investigation and action is taken to deter crimes against the taxi trade to ensure the safety of the drivers and their vehicles.

One Colchester cabbie, who has ferried passengers for 20 years, said he feels those working in the trade could be better supported.

Speaking anonymously, he said North Station Road has become a particularly troublesome spot for picking up fares at the weekend.

“It is supposed to be a non-drinking road but every time I drive through there you’ve got people drinking in groups,” he said.

Busy - the taxi rank in Colchester city centre (Image: Newsquest)

“It has left me thinking ‘why the hell haven’t they put any enforcement down there?’.”

However, the taxi driver said incidents of passengers assaulting drivers and criminals damaging cabs have reduced since the start of this year.

In January, the Gazette reported there had been an “epidemic” of attacks which included windows being caved in and tyres being slashed.

One driver said: “It has happened in the Hythe, some in New Town and others in Shrub End and out to Stanway”.