Cab attack sparks marshals demand

Taxi drivers say they have had problems with revellers in Guildford

Cab drivers are calling for marshals, put in place to stop late-night violence on the weekends before Christmas, to become permanent.

The taxi drivers claimed fights at the North Street rank in Guildford, Surrey put customers and drivers at risk.

A driver suffered multiple fractures to his jaw when he was attacked by four people at the rank two weeks ago.

But the Safer Guildford Partnership, which runs the marshals, said funding was not available for year-round cover.

The driver attacked on 27 October had to have a metal plate inserted in his jaw.

'Smashed windscreen'

David Williams-Wyn, chairman of Guildford Hackey Association, told BBC Southern Counties Radio it was not an isolated incident.

"I once came up against a group of troublemakers who wouldn't pay," he said.

"They smashed the windscreen and I got glass in my ear."

Another driver said he no longer worked late at night because of trouble from drunken revellers.

The Safer Guildford Partnership includes Surrey County Council, Guildford Borough Council and Surrey Police.

Guildford councillor David Wright said it could not fund marshals every weekend of the year.

"There will be coverage in the weeks up to Christmas when there will be a lot of people around and there is more likely to be trouble," he said.

Supt Duncan Greenhalgh, from Surrey Police, said statistically the number of assaults at the cab rank was very low.

"In the national picture, Guildford and Waverley are safe places to be," he said.