Search continues for taxi rapist

Lothian & Borders Police continue to hunt for a private hire taxi driver who sexually assaulted a 26-year-old woman last month.

The attack occurred on 17 August at around 2:15AM. The woman, who cannot be named, entered what she thought was a licensed taxi outside the Hudson Hotel. She was then driven to Brunstane Road South, where the driver sexually assaulted her within the vehicle.

Police currently wish to question a black male, 35-40 years of age, medium build, with short, black hair, and a round face. The taxi is described as a four-door saloon similar to a Volkswagen, dark in colour, with what looked to be a white private hire plate on the rear of the car. While the aggressor has not yet been identified, a police spokesman said: “We have had a really positive response from the public as a result of our original appeal, but we remain keen for any information that can help us track down the suspect.”

Last month's incident has caused concern among Edinburgh locals with some voicing dissatisfaction with the taxi service in general. Speaking to The Journal, Leah Robinson, a 26-year-old PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, said that she felt threatened and scared: “It really makes you not want to go out alone or get into a taxi by yourself. Cabs are supposed to get you home safely. There is an element of trust when you get into someone’s taxi, but incidents like this create distrust in the service. I bet this will significantly hurt the cabbie business.”

Speaking this week about the continuing investigation, Inspector Audrey Fry from the Edinburgh cab office argued that there appears to be no evidence thus far to suggest that the taxi driver held a legitimate license, insisting that the licensing process includes appropriate safeguards against such risks. “After the cab office receives the individual’s application from the licensing office, it is sent to the chief constable where the request is vetted," she said.

"The constable’s verdict is put into a report and then sent back to the council for revision. The regularity committee listens to the constable’s suggestions while the applicant is present and a final decision is then made. It is very similar to a court case, but without the legal formalities.”

According to the licensing office, the Civic Scotland Government Act 1982 mandates a six-month scrutiny period to determine whether a taxi licence is to be accepted or rejected. This procedure, claim officials, provides adequate means to assess the legitimacy of individuals seeking to obtain a legal cab licence.