Published at 11:01, Thursday, 03 January 2013

MORE than 100 taxi drivers in Cumbria have been subjected to assaults in the past five years.

A total of 116 taxi drivers have reported being the victim of verbal or physical abuse since 2008.

In 2008, 32 taxi drivers across Cumbria reported assaults. In 2009, there were 18. The following year there were 26 and in 2011 there were 23. This year has seen 17 reports.

Over the same five-year period, 21 bus drivers also claimed to have been assaulted. There have been a number of cases across north and West Cumbria where objects have been thrown at moving vehicles carrying passengers.

The figures, which go up to November 1 this year, have been released by Cumbria police following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

Cumbria police has repeatedly stated it takes a zero-tolerance stance against drink-fuelled crime with extra officers targeting hotspot areas to reduce the threat of trouble.

Taxi rank marshals have also been used at times in places including Whitehaven and Carlisle to help quell problems with people waiting for lifts home at the end of nights out.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk