Coventry boosts night-time safety with popular taxi marshal service
Coventry city centre has introduced a new taxi marshal service to enhance the safety and efficiency of late-night travel. The initiative, led by Coventry Business Improvement District (BID), is being piloted at the Spon Street taxi rank.
The marshals are tasked with ensuring all taxis operating in the city centre are properly licensed and that only Hackney Carriage Vehicles, commonly known as black cabs, use the official taxi ranks. Additionally, they oversee private hire vehicles, ensuring these pre-booked cars stop only in safe locations without blocking roads or endangering pedestrians.
The service, launched as a six-month trial, has been running for the past month. The marshals have received training from Coventry City Council's taxi licensing team and are supported by increased evening enforcement efforts from the council. All marshals are DBS checked and employed by Professional Security on behalf of Coventry BID.
The goal is to create safer streets for night-time visitors by reducing unsafe waiting vehicles and ensuring a smoother experience for taxi passengers. The programme also aims to keep roads clear for emergency services.
This taxi marshal initiative is part of a broader effort by Coventry BID to enhance the visitor experience and safety in the city centre's night-time economy. The BID's street patrol team has also expanded its operations, now covering nightlife hotspots around Skydome and Spon Street from 10pm to 4am daily. These measures are part of a continued commitment from Coventry BID, which has served the city centre for over 20 years and was recently re-elected for a fifth term by local businesses.
Mohammed Amjad, a taxi driver in the city centre, praised the initiative and its impact to date. He said: “Before the introduction of this service there was no real coordination at taxi ranks.
“Private hire drivers would come in and block up the area and as a result we would lose customers.
“I have definitely seen a change since the programme was introduced. It is making it safer for our customers too when they are trying to get a taxi.”
Coventry BID manager Joanne Glover said: “We are consistently looking for new ways to improve the experience for all stakeholders in the city centre.
“Whether you are visiting a bar or restaurant, run a business or are a taxi driver servicing the city centre, we are committed to making that experience as smooth, safe and enjoyable as possible.
“The pilot for the taxi marshal scheme is going well, with parking significantly more orderly in taxi ranks, traffic flowing and unauthorised vehicles being deterred from operating.
“Night time visitors to the city centre are now able to leave in a swifter and safer fashion by utilising licensed vehicles.
“Our night patrol team has also intervened in a number of incidents to help people get home safely and de-escalate potentially challenging situations.”
Councillor Patricia Hetherton, cabinet member for city services at Coventry City Council, said: “I’m really pleased that we have been able to support the BID team with this initiative. We want people to enjoy a night out in Coventry and then be able to get home smoothly and that’s what this marshal service is all about.”
