DARTFORD: Calls for better security after 'terrifying' attack on taxi drivers (From News Shopper)

DARTFORD: Calls for better security after 'terrifying' attack on taxi drivers

7:00am Wednesday 24th February 2010 in News By David Mills and Michael Purton

Eddie McCann has been a cabbie for 12 years.

TAXI drivers are demanding better lighting at a train station and CCTV in their cars after three cabbies were attacked.

Eddie McCann and Owen Palmer, both 65, were beaten up by two men at Dartford train station’s taxi rank following a dispute over a fare to Beckenham.

Mr Palmer, nicknamed OJ, was knocked to the ground unconscious and may not return to work due to the trauma of the attacks, which happened shortly after midnight on February 16.

A third taxi driver was attacked after he picked up two men in Dartford Road at around 11.30pm on the previous night.

The attackers started assaulting Mr McCann, who suffered cuts, bruises and a lump on his head, until Mr Palmer came to his assistance.

Taxi driver of 12 years Mr McCann said: “Owen got out of his vehicle and said that’s out of order, you can’t go around doing that.

“Him and his mate got hold of Owen and started punching and kicking him.”

Mr Palmer, who lives in Temple Hill and has been a cabbie for 15 years, suffered a swollen eye, a busted lip and injuries to his throat, neck and shoulders.

He said: “It feels like a vice grip of pain on them all the time.

“The doctors said I was lucky not to get worse injuries. The attack could have broken my neck, and the doctors were worried my skull was fractured.

“The doctors say that, because of my age, they cannot guarantee I will make a full recovery from the injuries.

“The attack was terrifying. Eddie says he was worried they were going to kill me."

The Dartford Taxi Association says these attacks vindicate their calls for lighting to be improved at the station.

Drivers also want Dartford Council to fit CCTV inside taxis to improve security after Gravesham Council installed cameras in cabs last year.

Steven Jones, a member of the association, said: “We’ve been banging on for ages about getting CCTV.

“When we found out Gravesend were getting it we asked why is our council not doing it.

“We were told we didn’t have funding.”

Mr McCann, who lives in Bexleyheath, said: “We need better lighting, I don’t think it’s adequate.

“I’m nervous now, once you get to the front of the queue late at night you start to think who will be going to come.”

Mr Palmer says he does not want his face to be shown in the newspaper for fear he is tracked down and assaulted again.

He said: “I still cannot believe this has happened to me. This is not supposed to happen in Britain.

“Fifteen or 20 years ago the lads would have respected me because of my age, not attacked me.”

A Dartford Council spokeswoman said: “Gravesham Council did not pay for CCTV for their taxis; they received a grant from the Urban EEC Fund after a driver was murdered. This funding stream is now closed.”

A spokesman for Southeastern, which manages the station, said: “We are obviously concerned about this incident and will be consulting with British Transport Police to ensure the lighting outside the station is of an acceptable standard.”

Police say the two attackers who are described as white, are in their late teens to early twenties and between 5ft8ins and 6ft2ins.

They were both wearing blue jeans and black jackets with white trainers.

One of the men was shorter and more stocky and he was carrying a blue plastic bag with items in it.

The other was taller and slimmer.

They were seen on CCTV getting onto a number 96 bus.

Anyone with information can contact PC Nicola Braybrook on 01474 366089 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

- Police yesterday arrested two men aged 17 and 25 in connection with these assaults.