Police examine taxi cams after assaults

Ken Mr Driver said it definitely wasn't what drivers expected when they went to work.

Police are examining footage from taxi security cameras after three taxi drivers were assaulted in separate attacks.

The incidents have left fellow drivers apprehensive about starting their weekend shift tonight.

Rotorua Taxis chairman Ken Driver said while taxi drivers were used to the odd bit of verbal abuse, having three drivers assaulted over two nights last weekend was out of the ordinary.

He said one driver was left with a black eye, one was punched, and another was allegedly hit with a steering brace.

"It's most unusual for us. Normally we don't have any trouble."

Mr Driver said while the drivers were a bit shaken, they weren't badly injured in the attacks.

"We're a pretty tough lot."

Mr Driver said it definitely wasn't what drivers expected when they went to work.

"They are a bit apprehensive about working this weekend but we don't normally have problems."

He said police had been given all the details of the assaults.

They had also downloaded the cameras in the taxis, and police were examining the recordings. Mr Driver said one of the assaults allegedly happened when the driver asked a group to pay a $35 fare. They handed over $10 and he asked for the full fare or told them he would take them to the police station.

Mr Driver said the man was then grabbed from behind and struck on the side of the face. "It's totally unacceptable behaviour."

Mr Driver said it was unfair for drivers to be treated so poorly when they were trying to carry out a job and prevent people drink-driving.

All of the Rotorua Taxis cabs were fitted with cameras and police commended the quality of the footage, Mr Driver said. All taxis were fitted with alarm buttons, which allowed the call centre in Auckland to hear what was going on.

In at least one of the assaults, the driver pressed the call button and they alerted police.

A man appeared in the Rotorua District Court yesterday charged with assaulting a man using a steering brace as a weapon. He will reappear on September 11.