Magnetic signs for Portsmouth taxis to be trialled soon after spate of vandalism

Portsmouth City Council will trial magnetic signage for private hire vehicles and hackney carriages this November after a spate of targeted crime last year.

The signs, used to indicate that the vehicles are licensed by the council, were approved by councillors in February this year but their roll out was subject to when the signs could be ready.

Peter Baltateanu, who has worked for Uber in the city for four years, experienced break-ins last year. He said: 'It was so bad before. Since lockdown we haven't had any problems but I am really pleased we will have the option to take our signs off at the end of the day.

'I do believe it will help and I am pretty sure my colleagues will be really happy too.'

Another taxi driver, who has worked in the city for more than 40 years, added: 'People see the signage on the cars and it's like a lightbulb to them - they think there's money inside or they just don't like taxis.

'It has calmed down slightly during the pandemic - as less people were out - but at its peak there were windows and windscreens being smashed in. Doors were ripped open - people were using crowbars.

'This was leaving drivers hundreds of pounds out of pocket. And it's not just the damage and cost of the cars being fixed, it meant their cars were out of action for days which lost them more money.

'It's really good that drivers will have the option to use magnetic signs, especially for those who have to park their cars on the roads at night in areas that might not be so secure. I think it's a forward step.'

The plans will be discussed at a licensing meeting on September 25 along with conditions to the signs. It is expected the council will implement a four point penalty if signs are not correctly displayed and the costs of the signs will be met by drivers as part of their licence.

A Portsmouth City Council spokeswoman said: 'A decision to introduce magnetic signs was made in February in response to drivers telling us that permanent signs could make their cars targets for vandalism and break-ins.

'Our proposed policy, to be discussed at the next meeting, includes safeguards and some rule changes.'

Drivers will have the option to stick to the permanent signs if preferred.

The trial will be reviewed in November 2021.

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