In Amsterdam, two taxi drivers have been violently robbed in just a week, a worrying development that raises the question of how this professional group protects itself against these types of incidents.
Taxi drivers in the city are taking various measures to ensure their own safety, and more and more initiatives are emerging to increase social control within the group. Last week an incident took place where a taxi driver picked up three men near the Rijksmuseum. What started as a routine job ended in a violent confrontation in Osdorp.
Once arrived in Nieuw-West, one of the passengers pulled out a firearm, which led to a struggle in which the driver ended up on the sidewalk. The three men sped away in his taxi, while the driver had to seek help from local residents because his phone and wallet were left in the car. A few days later the stolen taxi was recovered, but the perpetrators were still on the run.
second in a short time
It is striking that this violent robbery was the second in a short time. A few days earlier, on Monday, another driver was robbed at gunpoint. This driver was even tied up in the trunk of his own taxi and threatened with kidnapping. The police are investigating whether there is a connection between the two incidents, which authorities say are exceptional, especially because they occurred so close together.
Hedy Borreman, director of Taxi Centrale Amsterdam (TCA), calls the incidents worrying in the media and emphasizes that it has been 'a very long time' since a driver was robbed. “It's obviously terrible for both of them,” she says. “You can't imagine what goes through your mind when you suddenly have a gun to your head.”
The recent robberies have caused a wave of unrest among taxi drivers in Amsterdam. The center is now investigating options to improve driver safety. Borreman points out that in the past they had cameras in the taxis, but that these were removed due to privacy rules. However, the possibility of briefly photographing passengers when boarding is now being carefully considered as a preventive measure. In addition, TCA has been offering resilience training for some time, so that drivers can better defend themselves and assess risks.
Another initiative that stems from the need for more safety is a WhatsApp group called SOS Central, set up by driver Oualid and some colleagues who use the location at Central Station. The group now has 89 members and serves as a modern version of the old mobile radio, where drivers warn each other of dangerous situations and can quickly call for help.
measures
Although most drivers who are affiliated with a center feel safer due to the new measures and mutual support, self-employed drivers are at greater risk, according to Oualid. They are often alone on the road and have less access to the networks that their colleagues at larger power stations have. Yet Oualid remains optimistic about safety in his field, as long as sufficient social control remains.
Veteran driver Fred van Duinen, who has been in the business for forty years, is not deterred by the recent incidents. “In all those years, I have only had the feeling that something was wrong twice,” he says. “People often forget, but being a taxi driver is a profession. We sense trouble.” indicates van Duinen in the Parool.
The increase in violent incidents against taxi drivers in Amsterdam underlines the need for continued attention to the safety of this profession. While police and taxi companies investigate how drivers can be better protected, the drivers themselves remain largely dependent on their own vigilance and solidarity within their community.
