Taxi ban helps cut crime by a third (From Stourbridge News)

Taxi ban helps cut crime by a third

4:05pm Tuesday 19th June 2007 in Local By Martyn Smith

A SCHEME to ban private hire taxis from Stourbridge has been hailed a success by councillors and cops.

Restrictions on traffic in the town's High Street during the weekend are to continue into 2008 after a trial period contributed to cutting crime at peak times by a third.

On Monday June 18, Stourbridge Area Committee gave the green light to extending the ban, which came into force last December.

The scheme prevents private hire cars from using the High Street from 11pm to 4am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, with taxi marshalls directing people who have booked cars to pick-up points in Lower High Street.

Sergeant Tony Osbourne, from Stourbridge Police, said: "The aim of police from Stourbridge town centre is to reduce violent crime and make Stourbridge a safer place.

"Overall crime in the town centre is down 30 per cent compared with last year and violent crime is down 25 per cent at a time when nationally violent crime is on the rise."

Without congestion on the street as late-night revellers leave the bars in the area, police said they were able to identify trouble spots quickly and reach the scene in time to stop incidents developing.

Councillors welcomed news of the scheme's success although Stourbridge councillor Malcolm Knowles says hooligans are still causing problems.

Cllr Knowles said: "I had grave reservations about this scheme, perhaps I was wrong, the scheme seems to be a success however I worry when we are told crime is falling.

"It doesn't stack up with the perception of law abiding people, this weekend a bottle of Vodka smashed a window in Worcester Street."

Sgt Osbourne said: "We have still got work to do, the proportion of violent crime is down, it is a safer place."