It came amid a night of violence in Wilton on Sunday, as a takeaway restaurant came under attack and white and Asian youths battled each other.

The Kirklees Hackney Carriage Association held an emergency meeting with police the following day to discuss the escalating violence.

Cab driver Nazir Mohammed was driving through the Wilton Estate on Sunday night with two female and two male passengers when it was pelted with bricks.
Taxi driver Nazir Mohammed surveys his damaged vehicle.

 

 He said he was at the junction of Oakhill Road and Bradford Road, near Wilton Park, at about 8pm, when the car was surrounded by youths.

He said: “One of them was in the middle of Bradford Road. The next minute, a brick hit one side of the car and another hit the other .”

One brick shattered the front passenger-side window and hit Mr Mohammed’s arm. A male passenger in the back seat was also hit.

Mr Mohammed, who works for Oakwell Cars in Birstall, said the damage would cost more than £400 to repair. He said as well as his cab, two private vehicles and one other taxi were attacked that night.

Kirklees Hackney Carriage Association joint chairman Akooji Badat told the News there was also an attack on an Indian takeaway and a fight between white and Asian youths that night.

 He said: “It started off with the takeaway, then there were two big groups fighting. It was a nightmare.”

Mr Badat met with Sgt Neil Money of the Batley Neighbourhood Policing Team on Monday to discuss the safety of taxi drivers.

“We are very pleased with the action the police are taking,” he said.

“They are doing their bit and the press are doing theirs but the courts aren’t.”

He said courts imposed fines of “a couple of quid” and youths were back on the streets committing crimes again in no time.

Mr Badat urged families living on Wilton Estate to keep youngsters under control before the taxi association had to impose another ban on the area.

He said: “The rest of the community has to look after us so we can look after them.”

As the News has reported, taxi firms have imposed no-go areas in Fieldhead and Wilton after similar attacks.

But Mr Badat feared drivers may soon have to avoid Bradford Road altogether.

Chief Insp Jon Carter said: “People may think it’s some sort of game to throw things at passing vehicles but it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt. Recently a three-year-old child was covered in glass when a car was damaged like this.

“This sort of criminal activity will not be tolerated and we are doing all we can to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Police have increased patrols in the area and have also drafted in additional resources from their Operations Support Unit.

Chief Insp Carter added: “We have met taxi drivers to update them but we cannot tackle this issue without the support of the community.

“We need people to come forward and tell us who is responsible.

may 3rd Batley news    http://www.batleytoday.co.uk/news?articleid=2848551