Cabbies banned from 'no go' areas

A Leeds taxi firm has told its drivers to stay out of part of the city after a spate of attacks by gangs.

One driver was threatened with a knife and three had satellite navigation systems stolen during the attacks in the Amberton and Gipton areas.

Jody Hodgson, of Roadrunners in Cross Gates, said drivers would not pick up or drop off people in Gipton unless they were well-known customers.

The operations manager added it was "not worth the risk" to the drivers.

We are advising them if they are pulling up in an area they are not familiar with to keep the doors locked until the customers get to the vehicle Jody Hodgson

He said almost every attack experienced by drivers at the firm were attempts to steal satellite navigation systems.

"It is a case of [the driver] will pull up at traffic lights and a group of lads will approach the vehicle or they will book a car and the first thing they are looking for is whether there is a satellite navigation system.

"They obviously have high retail value and they are easy to get hold of.

"We are advising [the drivers] to avoid using the satellite navigations unless they actually really need to and when they are not using them to keep them out of sight.

"We are also advising them, if they are pulling up in an area which they are not particularly familiar with or comfortable with, to keep the doors locked until the customers actually get to the vehicle."

A meeting of representatives from West Yorkshire Police Authority and Leeds City Council to discuss way of improving driver and passenger safety was due to be held on Tuesday.