Call Sign September 2011
Page 7
Britain's image as a tourist destination was
R I O T S & DAC !
given a major blow following the recent riot-
ing. The country's tourism officials, who just a
few weeks earlier had begun a countdown to
the 2012 Olympics, now face the challenge of
police battling yobs but managed to turn
overcoming the damage of riots that hit head-
round and bypass it.
lines around the world.
"As for the rest of the night and thanks to
Mary Rance, CEO of UKInbound, told Call
the invaluable messages going out over the
Sign: "The Riots, particularly in London, were
terminal, I managed to avoid any more trou-
most unfortunate for the global image of the
ble. The dispatchers were brilliant. I just wish
UK and not just ahead of the Olympics but
those drivers who waste our time by saying
for the country's short term and long term
there's `work at Eurostar' when there are more
inbound tourism industry. With scenes of loot-
than enough cabs queuing round the block to
ing, violence and lawlessness flashing across
take care of them, were as good!"
TV screens around the globe, it is absolutely
On the way home, John could see the fires
vital that the Government and its agencies, as
in Enfield.
well as the UK tourism industry, work hard to
"It was just horrendous and brought home
put things into context."
the danger and sheer futility of what was
The international press has been dominated
going on."
by images of burnt-out double-decker buses,
Call Sign spoke to several other DaC
cars and buildings and of police in riot gear
drivers who all also said they saw very
under attack. Fortunately few taxis were
little trouble thanks to DaC's dispatch-
involved and so far as drivers on Dial-a-Cab
ers. So we thought that we'd give credit
Steve Wright was shocked when he
were concerned, that could be thanks to the
where it's due and say thank you to the
saw Reeves the following morning
Society's dispatchers who constantly kept
three people in the dispatcher's box on
updating drivers on those parts of London
and was shocked when he went to Reeves
that Monday evening John Connor,
where there was trouble.
Corner the following morning. "It looked like
Talitha Cohen and Mujahid Ali. In addi-
Barry Spear (Y16) told us: "I saw a group
a bomb had landed on top of it. Working on
tion, when the police heard how suc-
of youths in the Hallfield Estate, Bayswater,
that awful Monday night, I consider myself
cessful our warnings were, they asked
looking as though they were about to start
lucky that our terminals were keeping us so
the DaC call centre to keep them
trouble and soon after, I saw a message about
up-to-date that I managed to keep out of trou-
informed as to where trouble was
the estate and Queensway where it men-
ble. Then on the way home, I was going
springing from. It was a day that radio
tioned petrol bombs being thrown. I must
through Purley when some yob hit the cab
showed how much it's worth...
thank the DaC dispatchers. Their assistance in
with an egg! But I suppose it could have been
Call Sign's Tom Quigley was hired for the
helping us to avoid trouble spots was just
worse..."
whole four days by a TV crew but he had to
invaluable."
John Davis (V41J) came across some
go to the riot hot-spots! His amazing and
Steve Wright (B36) lives close to Croydon
severe rioting at Ladbroke Grove station with
exclusive report is on page 13...
Martin Cordell & Co.
ACCOUNTANTS
Does your accountant supply you with the following?
Over forty years of experience with the Licensed London Taxi Trade.
Processing of self-assessment returns.
Advice on trading as a Limited Company with its tax advantages and potential pitfalls.
Preparation of accounts.
Initial consultation dealing with loss of earnings claims (due to accidents on the road etc.)
Letters to banks, building societies and other lenders.
Specialist in-house facilities to deal with Inland Revenue enquiry cases.
(This is expensive and time consuming. Ask your accountant how much he will charge should this
unpredictable event occur).
A three hundred and sixty five days a year service.
A `nightshift' service.
Offices in North and East London.
First consultation free of charge.
Martin Cordell & Co . . . Do!
All for one yearly fee
The London Taxi Trades Premier Accountants
020 8980 7161
(24 hour answering service for prompt service)
(24 hour answering service for prompt service)
1-5 Alfred Street, Bow, London E3 2BE also at
Front Office, First Floor, 9 Church Road, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 4AS
www.martin-cordell.co.uk
