Taxi driver and police officer assaulted by male & female passengers in Swindon

Image credit: Nissan Dynamo

A police officer and a taxi driver were assaulted during an incident in Swindon. 

At approximately 9.10pm, Wednesday 22 July, a member of the public called police to Frobisher Drive after a taxi driver had picked up a man and a woman who had booked to be collected. 

However, an altercation took place and the male passenger assaulted the driver.   

When officers arrived at the scene, they detained the male passenger and arrested him on suspicion of assault. Whilst doing so, the female passenger assaulted one of the officers by hitting him to the head several times and kicking him to the leg. 

The man, who is aged in his 30s from Faringdon, was arrested on suspicion of common assault and section 5 public order.

The woman, who is also aged in her 30s from Faringdon, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and whilst being transported to custody, she continuously spat in the police van and was further arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

Both remain in custody at Gablecross police station for questioning today (23 July).

Supt Adrian Burt said: "Fortunately, the taxi driver and the police officer were not seriously injured during this incident and both remained working their shifts, however we will simply not tolerate behaviour of this kind on our streets. 

"Police officers come to work every day to protect those living within our communities and being assaulted whilst carrying out their duties is not acceptable."

Anyone with information should call 101 and quote crime reference number 54200072323.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.