Taxi rank security to start

Nov 16 2005 By Ben Hurst

LATE night taxi rank 'bouncers' will be operating along Birmingham's golden mile this weekend, it was revealed today.

Birmingham City Council hopes the scheme will have a big effect in reducing violence and crime in the Broad Street area.

Officials and traders want revellers to be more confident about returning home safely after a night out in the area's many bars, restaurants, theatres and concert halls.

Operating every Friday and Saturday from 10.30pm until 3.30am, the marshalled taxi rank is also set to ease traffic congestion and prevent problems among passengers vying for late night taxis.

The rank will be a cordoned off area outside the Birmingham Register Office, opposite Centenary Square, and will be managed by a minimum of four taxi marshals employed by Birmingham City Council.

Wearing highly visible uniforms, they will be experienced in crowd control and have direct radio contact with the police.

The scheme has been introduced following a successful pilot, which operated in the run-up to Christmas last year.

Jacqui Kennedy, the council's acting senior assistant director of regulatory services, said: "It proved to be very popular with people visiting the area late at night.

"People using the rank can be confident that all the cars are fully licensed and insured and they do not need to be tempted into flagging down unlicensed private hire cars."

Gary Taylor, chairman of Broad Street Partnership Ltd, which represents businesses, said: "We fully support Birmingham City Council with the introduction of the taxi marshall scheme and would encourage all visitors to the area late at night to use the marshalled rank."