Madam,

I am somewhat amazed at your front-page story with regard to a ‘cabbie’ being attacked in Aberystwyth (‘Attack leaves cabbie too scared to work’, 5 May). According to your report he was attacked by a law student and he is now too scared to work. You quote the taxi driver as saying that he is unhappy with the police decision to caution the offender, and yet you quote a police spokesperson as saying that the victim did not wish to proceed with a prosecution. Clearly there is a conflict here.

If he was seriously assaulted but he is not prepared to go to court, then I am disappointed. By insisting the offender be prosecuted, it sends out a clear message to people who resort to unprovoked violent attacks against vulnerable workers such as bus and taxi drivers, national health workers and the like. I am also concerned that the police have not taken positive action. I appreciate it is difficult to mount a prosecution if the key witness is reluctant to give evidence, if that is the case. Having said that, in my experience (I served 30 years in the Nottinghamshire Police) it is not unusual to pursue a prosecution in these circumstance as is the case in some domestic violence offences. From your report there were plenty of other witnesses to the incident. I am also surprised that the offender was cautioned if, as reported, the victim sustained long-term effects from the assault.

Violent crime, I believe, is increasing in the area and I therefore feel a more robust approach is required. Again, from experience, I am aware it is far easier to keep crime down in a low crime area than it is to reduce crime in a high crime area.

Those who resort to violence must also be aware of the possible consequences, I dealt with an incident some years ago in Worksop, where a single punch from an assailant, outside a nightclub, resulted in the victim sustaining fatal injuries and the offender found himself before the court charged with murder.

Yours etc

Eddie Ffoulkes-Jones

Trefenter

Aberystwyth.