By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterTHERE HAS been an increase in the number of reported cases of sexual offences committed by taxi drivers, according to the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA).
"We have had at least 30 reported cases since January and we are talking about mostly white plate (robot) taxis," said Superintendent Denver Frater of the CIB Headquarters, downtown Kingston.
The police are currently probing an incident which occurred a week ago where a young woman from rural Jamaica was abducted and raped while on her way to Kingston. She was beaten and stabbed several times and left to die on the streets of the Corporate Area.
JANEALLE'S TRAGEDY
About two months ago, a schoolgirl from a prominent high school in Kingston, who was the only passenger in a route taxi in Portmore, St. Catherine, was raped by the taxi driver. And, there is the recent case of 12-year-old Janealle Blair, who was abducted, raped, stabbed four times in the abdomen and her body dumped in bushes. A taxi driver has been implicated in the incident and the police are now searching for the car. Janealle was buried on Sunday.
Contacted yesterday, Egeton Newman, chairman of the National Association of Taxi Operators (NATO), said the association was deeply saddened about comments made by the Old Harbour police that taxi operators were involved in sexual offences and other crimes.
"We are calling on the Police High Command to speedily investigate these allegations to determine if it is really taxi operators who are involved," Mr. Newman said.
TRAVEL TIPS ON TAXIS
Take public passenger vehicles that frequent the route and which are driven by persons who can be easily identified.
Ascertain the colour, make and registration number of the vehicle and make special observation of drivers and occupants.
If possible, note the licence number of the car before entering the vehicle.
Avoid standing in lonely areas to await taxis.
Don't take rides from strangers.
If possible, try and avoid unit which has a group of men. Pay special attention to vehicles which move about soliciting passengers.
