Wiltshire Police warns public about unlicensed minicabs after alleged assault

Swindon's Wiltshire Police Assistant Superintendent Al Lumley has urged residents and visitors to ensure their safety while traveling around town.

In an effort to combat unregulated transportation services, A/Supt Lumley emphasised the importance of using licensed taxi and minicab companies.

The advisory comes in the wake of an alleged sexual assault that took place outside Tree nightclub in Old Town, just a week ago. Police officers patrolling the area were alerted to the incident in the early hours of Sunday 4 September. Two men have since been charged in connection with the incident and are currently denying the charges.

A/Supt Lumley stressed the significance of booking minicabs in advance, as these are typically licensed and regulated by authorities. Lumley cautioned against hailing unlicensed minicabs, particularly during nighttime, as these pose risks such as the lack of a record of the journey or driver, and potential issues with insurance coverage in the event of an accident.

Lumley said: “We want everyone to travel around our town safely and in the knowledge they are using licensed, regulated companies when jumping into taxis or minicabs.

“To access most of these, you will need to book in advance, however, some are unlicensed and tend to look for customers on the streets and usually at night.

“Our advice is simple; never get into an unbooked minicab because there might not be any record of your journey or driver.

“They may also be uninsured in the event of an accident.

“Booking your minicab in advanced means your trip will be carried out by a licensed, insured driver in a licensed, insured vehicle. A record of your journey, driver and vehicle will also be logged so that, in the event of any issues, the driver can be traced. Another good tip is to make a note of or take a picture of the vehicle's number plate and licence number.”