violent robbery attempts had forced them to carry weapons for protection.

In the article, drivers said they were now carrying weapons after incidents in which their colleagues had been attacked by guns, knives, clubs and acid.

However, a Police spokesperson said while "the concern of taxi drivers for their own safety in the face of recent assaults is appreciated by the Police ... we are not in a position to condone the carrying of prohibited and offensive weapons by any person.'' The spokesperson defined an offensive weapon as "any article made or adapted for use for causing injury to a person or intended for such use by the person having it in his or her possession.'' In the article, taxi drivers said they were now avoiding "bad areas'' in fear of picking up or being flagged down by would-be robbers. Areas listed were Ord Road, Camp Hill, the back of Town and Crawl Hill.

They called for stiffer penalties against fare dodgers and those convicted of attacking drivers, and many said they were considering placing glass windows inside cabs, separating drivers from passengers.

The drivers also expressed their anger at last weekend's attack on 55-year-old taxi driver, Mr. Quinton Binns, who almost lost his sight after acid was thrown in his face by three would-be robbers.

The Police spokesperson said that persons are allowed to defend themselves under the criminal code.

"... it is safe to say that any person may defend themselves against an unprovoked attack with as much force as is reasonably necessary to make an effectual defence,'' he said.