
Taxi drivers at Chippenham station are being turned into first responders as a local charity distributes military-grade bandage kits designed to stop catastrophic bleeding.
Rapaid, a charity founded in Swindon to combat the rising tide of knife crime, is providing the high-pressure bandages to help drivers provide "immediate help that could save lives" before paramedics arrive.
The kits contain four specialised bandages capable of applying 30lb of pressure to a wound, along with surgical gloves.
Alex Chivers, a military veteran and former firearms officer who founded the charity, explained the critical nature of the gear, stating: "You can bleed to death in as little as five minutes if you've got a serious haemorrhage and the quicker direct pressure is applied, the better your chances of survival."
Chivers noted that the kits are specifically "designed for those golden five or ten minutes until help arrives."
The initiative has already proven successful elsewhere. Chivers recalled an incident at London's King's Cross where officers ran to a taxi rank to grab a kit to treat a stabbing victim, saying: "They ran back in, dealt with the victim and saved his life."
Inspector Pete Foster of Wiltshire Police welcomed the rollout, noting that the taxi community is "mobile throughout public areas" and perfectly positioned to assist during the night-time economy.
As Chivers puts it: "If one bandage saves one person's life then we've achieved everything."

Victor Popa, 35, lured the intoxicated teenager into his car in January 2023 by offering her a lift home, only to carry out a "predatory and deeply distressing" attack.

Jason Edgar, 40, summoned the PHV to Riverside Road in Huntingdon just after midnight on November 28, but the journey quickly turned into a life-threatening ordeal for the driver.

Barnsley taxi drivers are pushing back against plans to raise licensing fees, warning that the extra costs come at a time when many are already struggling to make ends meet.

Following a recent review, officials discovered a 28% shortfall in licensing income, a discrepancy blamed on the chaotic state of the council’s accounts following a 2021 cyberattack.

Following their acquisition last month by the Cardiff-based Veezu Group, the historic Avenue Taxis and fellow operator CabsSmart are rebranding to create a powerhouse regional service.

Brian Clare pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault at Warrington Magistrates Court following the incident, which began when he asked the driver where he was from.

The operation, which took place on Saturday, March 14, targeted unlicensed drivers and dangerous vehicles in Preston, Chorley, and South Ribble.

Under the new rules, any new application for a hackney carriage licence must be for a vehicle that is either wheelchair-accessible, zero-emission, or a hybrid.

Transport for London (TfL), working in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), is trialling a new type of radar?based speed camera at up to 10 sites across the capital.

Walter Burke, 63, was found guilty of causing death by careless driving following a trial that featured a dramatic courtroom demonstration of his failure to react.

Transport for London has confirmed a wave of price increases that will force taxi and private hire drivers to pay significantly more for their licences and tests.

The driver was reportedly approached by three men wearing face coverings who "threatened him with a knife and stole £200" before running away.

Aqeel Shakeel’s appeal was dismissed at Dudley Magistrates' Court following a council investigation that used "state-of-the-art technology" to prove his Audi A4 was equipped with the deceptive plates.

Council officers had suggested that future talks should only include senior staff and drivers to avoid "political bias" and "maintain impartiality in the council’s licensing functions."

The move comes as the county struggles with a sharp decline in taxi numbers, with figures showing that more than a fifth of licensed drivers - a total of 218 - have left the trade since the pandemic.

According to the RAC, average petrol prices have hit 139.64p a litre since the violence began, leaving many drivers struggling to stay profitable.

Terrence Harrington pleaded guilty to attacking driver Mahmoud Arras on December 20, claiming he was left at the "wrong street" while under the influence of eight pints of cider.

The move comes as the Granite City struggles with a severe driver shortage, with only 508 licensed taxis currently operating - less than half of the 1,079 allowed under the city's official limit.

While none of the drivers faced criminal prosecution between 2022 and 2024, officials confirmed that each individual failed to meet the city’s strict safety criteria.

The operation was led by 54-year-old Madjid Belabes, an Uber Eats driver who pocketed nearly £290,000 by charging people £1,200 each to be transported to mainland Europe.
