Tighter security is set to be introduced to help safeguard taxi drivers following a spate of late night attacks.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown yesterday announced how he and Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) boss Derrick Burgess had been in talks over what new measures were needed.

The Islands 1,200 cab drivers are to be consulted over what changes they would like to see to help keep them safe from beatings and robberies.

Their suggestions will be put before the Government in the hope that new regulations can be introduced.

Mr. Burgess said he had been in discussion with the Ministry for some time about safety, but the talks had escalated this week following a ruthless attack on a 68-year-old taxi driver at the weekend.

He said: "Some of the men and women are refusing to work night shifts now because they are worried about who they are going to be picking up.

"There have been a number of attacks on drivers and that is not a good environment for them to be working in.

"We appreciate that you can be over-regulated, but the drivers, and their passengers, have to be protected.'' He said new legislation to be implemented that demanded taxi drivers have a two-way radio system connected to a central dispatch will mean that cabbies have a panic button in their vehicles.

However, he said that alone would not solve the problem.

Mr. Burgess added: "A panic button is no good to a driver who is taken by surprise and attacked within seconds.

"We want these attacks to stop.

"We don't know what the answers are yet. We need to hear what the drivers think. But I wish I had found a solution yesterday. I don't want to see anyone else attacked.'' He said he thought taxi drivers were attacked simply because they were easy targets and because a lot of them were old.

He added: "We are very concerned for them and for the service to the community.'' Dr. Brown said the Government and the BIU were going to insist on a new safety code.

But he said part of the challenge was to find out why the attacks happened in the first place.

He added: "We have seen instances where passengers have been endangered by the conduct of drivers, and now we are seeing drivers in danger from the conduct of people.

Taxi drivers under threat "There is a Bermudian problem with violence. The people involved are Bermudian. There is a lack of concern for each other.'' Asked why he thought Bermudians were resorting to violence, he said it was probably down to their disillusionment with life that led to a drugs problem and a need for cash.

The Minister added: "They need to seek help. If we can reduce hopelessness, we can reduce drug use.'' But he said the issue was now down to the taxi drivers themselves.

"We are saying, the Government will look out for your safety,'' said Dr.

Brown.

"We want the drivers to bring to the Ministry what is best for them. And we are making a public appeal for people to be more concerned.'' Just this year alone there have already been a number of attacks on cab drivers.

Last weekend, 68-year-old Warrington Zuill, who has been a cabbie for more than 30 years, was left bleeding in the street after three male passengers punched and kicked him, before making off with his takings and his car.

In May, passengers tried to choke a 65-year-old taxi driver with a piece of wood before beating him around the face and head and stealing his cash.

A cabbie was also beaten and robbed in February this year in the Pembroke area.

And in June, 1998, a taxi driver temporarily lost his sight after having some kind of chemical sprayed in his face by his passengers.

The year before that, a cab driver suffered a slashed throat when passengers tried to make off with his takings.

Mr. Burgess added: "The drivers are trying to provide a service to the community and make a living. These attacks must stop and members of the public have to help us.''