Marshal law
Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date published: 13 August 2009
OLDHAM’S acclaimed taxi marshal scheme is under threat after two men were spotted viciously brawling in a BBC programme.
Council chiefs have suspended the security firm that provides them while it investigates whether the thugs were officials.
Monday night’s “Panorama” threw the spotlight on the town’s binge-drinking culture and what is being done to tackle it.
Among the fighting and debauchery filmed on Yorkshire Street was a shocking scene showing two men dressed in florescent yellow jackets involved in a brawl with several youths.
One of the men headbuts a youth and grapples with him. He’s kicked on the floor before he and a second man trade punches and kicks with up to eight youths. The second man delivers a devastating punch to one youth who appears to be trying to calm the situation, knocking him to the ground.
Presenter Richard Bilton says the incident took place at 11.30pm on June 19, adding: “The fight started between drinkers and taxi rank officials.”
At first it was denied that the men were taxi marshals but Oldham Councillor Mark Alcock later said: “The security company that the council sub-contracts to provide taxi marshals has carried out its own investigation and dealt with the matter according to their procedures.
“However, having reviewed the CCTV footage, the decision has been made to immediately suspend the firm. I will now be seeking an urgent meeting with them to discuss this matter further.
“Oldham Council does not tolerate violence of any description and if we do find that taxi marshals have acted outside the law then we will end our association with this firm.
“I would like to reassure that taxi marshals provide a valuable service and this incident is not representative overall of the work they do in ensuring a safe night out for many citizens.”
Authentic taxi marshals have their role written on the back of their jackets, while the jackets of the men in the footage are bare.
But it’s not clear why they would be wearing such clothing while stood next to a taxi rank if they were not officials.
The taxi marshal scheme, introduced to Yorkshire Street in April, 2006, was hailed a resounding success after the number of skirmishes between drinkers plummeted. Two years ago the team was nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.
Council chiefs say taxi marshals have brought huge benefits by installing calm around taxi ranks and receiving positive feedback from revellers.
“Panorama” highlighted disturbing statistics showing a 200 per cent increase in violent crime in Yorkshire Street in the first four months of the year.
But it also highlighted Oldham’s attempts to tackle the problem by becoming the first town in the UK to introduce strict new rules in bars selling cheap drinks.
