Call for cameras as cabbie attacked

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Yet another vicious attack on a Hamilton driver reinforces the Taxi Federation's call for security cameras to be made compulsory in their vehicles, the association says.

And while Transport Minister Steven Joyce is expected to sign off a new rule making cameras compulsory in taxis at the end of August next year, it can't come soon enough for one local driver.

Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton said the taxi driver, of North African origin, picked up the two men and two women from outside a bakery on Victoria St about 4am yesterday.

"He's then driven them in his taxi to Moore St near Forest Lake where a man in the rear seat has put a knife to his throat and demanded money. Fearing for his life the driver accelerated into a driveway and began tooting his horn while at the same time grabbing the knife. As a result of this he suffered cuts to one of his hands."

Mr Thornton said the man's attacker ran off accompanied by his three friends, heading to a right of way at the end of the street which the group went down before scaling a fence and disappearing from view.

English was not the victim's first language, so although police had interviewed him they were still working with interpreters to establish exactly what happened.

"At this stage the only description we have is the group were made up of two men and two women, who are all believed to be Maori or Polynesian aged in their late teens to early 20s."

The taxi was not fitted with a security camera. But federation executive director Tim Reddish said taxi companies had been holding off buying any equipment until specifications were confirmed in the new rule.

Mr Reddish was saddened but not surprised by yesterday's attack and said the new rule couldn't come soon enough. "There's more and more of these [attacks] happening and it's making the need for [cameras] more evident."

- © Fairfax NZ News