DUDLEY’S taxi chief is reissuing his call for more police and council safety support after a driver was left bloody and bruised after an attack in Stourbridge yesterday morning (Sunday, July 17).

ABM Taxis driver Yasir Mahmood suffered a broken nose and swollen eyes during the attack outside the Arena nightclub in Hagley Road.

Mr Mahmood was called to the nightclub at about 4am and while waiting for his passengers, three men begun “messing about” with his taxi board.

The driver got out of the taxi to confront the men, and as he attempted to place the board back in place, he was punched and kicked.

While the attack was going on, another taxi driver arrived and was able to deter the men who went back into the club.

West Midlands Ambulance Service were called to the scene at about 4.26am where they treated Mr Mahmood’s injuries before taking him to Russells Hall Hospital. West Midlands Police were called but did not attend the incident.

The driver, who has been working for the Stourbridge-based taxi firm for the past 10 years, was released from hospital later yesterday afternoon.

Following the attack, Shaz Saleem, chairman of Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association, has once again raised his calls for more to be done to protect taxi drivers in the borough.

Mr Saleem said: “This is the second time in recent months when one of our drivers has been physically assaulted.

“We deal with verbal assaults on a regular basis but these kinds of physical incidents are rare in Dudley, however they do seem to be on the rise.

“Mr Mahmood was very shook up and he is reluctant to go back out there, but he has to provide for his family.

“Our drivers shouldn’t feel intimidated and threatened when they are at work.

“The worse thing in all of this is that even though we called the police, they didn’t turn up. Instead they gave Mr Mahmood an appointment to see them in two days’ time!

“From our point of view, enough is enough. I am now demanding meetings with the police and Dudley Council as we simply want – and need – help.

“We used to have a really good relationship with the police when we ran our taxi watch scheme, but now, if there is a crime against one of our drivers, we have to wait two days before anything is done about it.

“I am very disappointed, because we’re losing confidence in the police and the council and we want reassurance that they are going to protect us.”

Chief Inspector Simon Inglis, from Dudley Police, said: “We were informed by the ambulance service of an assault on a taxi driver on Hagley Road, Stourbridge at 4.30am on Sunday (July 17). He was taken straight to hospital for treatment.

“Our contact centre staff later got in touch with the victim on the phone to agree a time and place of his convenience for an official statement to be taken. He requested a home visit by officers on Wednesday (July 20).

“I understand why taxi drivers in Dudley are worried by what has happened, but I would reassure them that this is being treated as an isolated incident and a thorough investigation will be carried out to try and find those responsible.

“I am more than happy to address any on-going concerns am remain keen to work with the Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association and the local council on any initiative which aims to prevent such assaults and helps them to feel safer.”

Councillor Richard Body, chairman of the taxis committee, said: “We are shocked and saddened to hear about this incident involving a taxi driver.

“We take the safety of taxi drivers very seriously and would be more than happy to sit down with association leaders to look at their suggestions for improved safety.

“In the meantime, we are nearing the conclusion of a consultation exercise where we are looking at the potential to introduce CCTV which will come to our committee in November.

“CCTV, if agreed and introduced, will not only protect the drivers but also the passengers, many of which are residents of Dudley borough.”

Newline Taxis driver Mohammed Ahmed suffered from a fractured skull after being “left for dead” in an attack in Brierley Hill town centre in March.