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In response to the recent string of sexual assaults involving taxi drivers, on Monday Halifax Regional Police took the unusual step of releasing a breakdown of similar incidents that have occurred in the last five years.
“We’re providing context so citizens can make informed decisions about their personal safety, and also outlining the police response so people are aware of what we’re doing to address the issue,” acting public information officer Alicia Joseph writes in a press release.
According to HRP, there have been 12 sexual assaults involving cab drivers since 2012, five of which occurred in 2016. There were three incidents last year, one each in 2014 and 2013 and two cases in 2012.
Six suspects were identified by police in seven of those cases; all of them men between the ages of 30 to 50, who commonly had dark hair and “spoke with an accent.”
Their behaviour fits the pattern of recently reported cases of sexual assault. The driver either has a lone female passenger or waits until only one woman is left in his cab. He often refuses payment for the drive, and asks personal questions or attempts to flatter his passenger.
In nine of the 12 cases, the sexual assaults involved the driver touching the woman “in a sexual manner” and forcibly trying to kiss them.
All of the incidents happened with passengers picked up in the downtown core, most often on weekends during the spring and summer.
Police say the Sexual Assault Investigation Team (SAIT) is thoroughly investigating each file, and beat officers as well as members of the Liquor Enforcement Unit and Quick Response Unit are engaging with downtown patrons and door staff seeking any information on suspicious activity.
Despite those efforts, charges have been laid in only five of the 12 cases. Three other cases are under active investigation, and three were closed due to a “lack of solvability” but can be reopened if new information comes to light. The remaining case was closed at the request of the victim.
Halifax Police recommend calling a taxi instead of hailing one so there’s always a record of which driver has been dispatched, as well as taking note of the roof light number, the driver’s license and their photo. The department also recommends sitting in the back, right-hand seat as it’s the farthest from the driver. Most of the assaults reported to police happened when the passenger is in the front seat.
“We have said this many times but must reiterate once again that the women who have been sexually assaulted have done absolutely nothing wrong and have every right to believe it’s safe to get into a taxi,” Joseph writes. “It’s the perpetrators who are purposely targeting young women accessing their taxis. The offenders must stop this unacceptable and violent behaviour.”
Police are asking anyone with information about these incidents or any others to contact them at 902-490-5016. Anonymous tips can also be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at crimestoppers.ns.ca or texting a tip be sending Tip 202 + your message to 274637.
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This article appears in Jul 21-27, 2016.
So, we call people described by the victims as “of middle eastern descent” as “commonly dark haired and spoke with an accent”. It’s the same fucking thing!!!! What’s the new phrase of the day to describe Caucasian, African Canadian or Aboriginal perpetrators of crimes? This pandering to people who pretend to get offended to get some media coverage has just got to stop. Using someone’s race as a description, as a victim of a crime, is not a micro aggression. We’re describing a fucking, POS criminal FFS! Do I feel like a criminal if the perpetrator of a crime is described as “white” or “Caucasian”? Of course not, because that would be stupid and I would be insulting my own intelligence if I did that.
I would like to recant my earlier statement about the description being the “same thing”. Was the cab driver an Asian man? They have “commonly black hair and (sometimes) speak with an accent.” So do Italians , Indians (India), Aboriginal, Spanish, etc… How is that even a helpful description? We know what you’re implying by your description because the real description was already published, but in the name of public safety, shouldn’t we be putting the real, helpful description out there?
What a fucking embarrassment!
“According to HRP, there have been 12 sexual assaults involving cab drivers since 2012, five of which occurred in 2016. There were three incidents last year, one each in 2014 and 2013 and two cases in 2012.”
Seems as though it would be more accurate to say that there have been 12 REPORTED sexual assaults involving cab drivers since 2012, given the statistics of how many sexual assaults go unreported.
And my comment was removed must have triggered some SJW’s with a dose of truth. Looks like I have to fall into the leftist naritive to have an opinion here.
Oddly, they quoted someone stating, “spoke with an accent.” without actually identifying who said it. Intentional or poor journalism?
“all of them men”
“assaults involved the driver touching the woman”
I thought this paper was working toward a gender neutral future, where gender identification should not be necessary for passports or toilets.
What if some of these assailants or victims don’t identify as men or women…?
If Halifax wants to attract more immigrants from the middle east it must get over its eurocentric ‘come from away’ attitude and try to be culturally sensitive to the cab drivers personal cultural perception. I would recommend alternative justice and sharia law as being more inclusive and appropriate.