Bytes from the Back Seat

There has been an ongoing problem with the area 094 rank that runs along Hay St in the city beside the Wesley Church. As a result I emailed my dispatch in the hope that something could be done about it. To save repeating myself I’ll just insert the email I sent here.

Rob Chester

I’d like to bring to your attention a problem concerning the rank at the Wesley Church Area 094.

There is a group of aboriginals that congregate on William st in front of the McDonald’s store most if not every night. From there they move across to the area behind the Wesley church which at night is extremely dark as it’s not lit at all, providing them a place to sleep etc. The problem with them sleeping there is they feel they have the right to abuse taxi drivers standing on the rank talking as we are disturbing them.

Last week I had to call the police as they were fighting, the night before I had heard one of them break a bottle and threaten someone with it but I got a job before I could call police.

It’s gotten to the stage that I keep my doors locked whenever I am on that rank after midnight unless there is another taxi there as well.

I shouldn’t have to change the way I work just because they are there. I already park on the 094 rank instead of the 088 rank as it is hidden from the people frequenting McDonald’s, which lessens the hassles I have to deal with.

After calling the police last week I was given a radio job to pick up at the McDonald’s but when I got there the fight I had heard behind the Wesley church had moved back to William st and as a result I decided against stopping and informed base of the situation and why I wasn’t picking up.

I have also been approached with requests for money for food etc and when I refused I was threatened. The person actually said “Do you think I am alone” and indicated to another group standing on Hay st mall.As it is obvious I have money this is something that concerns me greatly.

I would like to see a floodlight installed in the corner of the building near the staircase.as this is where they gather and it would reduce the likelihood of trouble occurring there, while at the same time make it safer for everyone as we could easily see what was going on.

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Regards

Nathaniel

Rob Chester assured me that when he received my  email he would forward it on to the relevant people at the PCC Perth City Council but that was as much as he could do. I hoped that my email would carry more weight with the PCC if it was sent via the taxi dispatch and not straight from my personal email account.

Anyway this morning I pulled up on the 094 rank and would you believe it they have installed not one but seven lights along the side of the building there. I don’t know when the work was actually done as I haven’t been working that rank recently and I haven’t heard anything either from Rob Chester or the PCC since I emailed them back on Feb 15.

This is great news.

Thank you Perth City Council.