Taxi run-offs in Hereford happen weekly

In the last 12 months there have been 46 reports of “run-offs” from taxis in the county, according to the findings of a Freedom of Information request made to West Mercia Police by this paper.

But one city taxi driver says the actual figure is likely to be higher.

“We don’t report ours,” said Paul Rone, a taxi driver with Hereford Rank Taxis.

“It doesn’t happen very often here to be honest but when it does, we tend to deal with it internally.

“Otherwise the driver loses out and loses the time it takes to report it to the police.

“I had one passenger who I drove to Redhill from the city centre “When he got out of the taxi, he fell over and was sick on himself.

“So do I wait up to half an hour to try and get the fare from him?”

Mr Rone said Hereford Rank Taxi members meet regularly with the city drivers where they tell colleagues during the meetings whether they have suffered any run-offs.

Those who have are reimbursed.

“We compensate our drivers who are victims of this,” he said.

“It also means that they don’t have to get into an argument with customers,” added Mr Rone, who is also a cabinet member with Herefordshire Council.

Twenty of the 46 run-offs recorded in Herefordshire resulted in a community resolution punishment, which is a modern method of policing that sees the offender handled by the police officer dealing with the crime instead of the justice system.

It can include the offender receiving advice about their behaviour, a verbal or written apology to the victim or financial compensation for the victim.

Three people were charged, however, with one receiving a caution. Six further cases were concluded with no suspect identified.

Sixteen cases are still under investigation.

The amount of money owed to drivers in each case varied between £5.45 and £70.

In total, £1,188 of fares were left owing as a result of the 46 run-offs that took place between November 1, 2013 and the same date of this year