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MORE than seven in 10 private hire drivers have been assaulted at work, new research has revealed.
A survey of members of the United Private Hire Drivers (UPHD) union shows that a shocking 71 per cent have been attacked by customers and 82 per cent have suffered verbal abuse.
Drivers represented by UPHD, a branch of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), protested outside the London offices of app-based taxi firm Bolt on Tuesday after the fatal stabbing of driver Gabriel Bringye in February.
Fellow Bolt worker Muhammad Alam was assaulted and had his car stolen at knifepoint the following month.
As both incidents are thought to have involved the use of stolen phones, the IWGB is demanding the inclusion of password protection and tougher customer ID features on the Bolt app, along with more support for abused drivers.
IWGB president Alex Marshall said: “We’re not asking for much, just that all workers get enough money to feed their families and are safe doing so.”
A Bolt spokesperson said that the safety of its drivers was a priority and it was always in contact with them to make improvements.
