Two charged following taxi driver attack

‘These crimes are committed by a small minority intent on ruining a great community spirit.’

Police Scotland have confirmed that a 17-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy have been charged in connection with the racially aggravated assault and robbery of a taxi driver in North Edinburgh.

The incident happened around 6.55pm on Sunday, March 5, in West Pilton Place.

The 17-year-old will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday (13 March).  It’s expected that the 14-year-old will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal and the Children’s Reporter.

Enquiries are still ongoing to trace others involved in this incident and officers continue their appeal for witnesses.

Detective Inspector Paul Grainger of Corstorphine CID said:  “Racially motivated crimes are completely unacceptable and they have no place in the North Edinburgh community.

“Detectives are dedicated to this enquiry and are working hard to identify other teenagers responsible.  I am confident that we will be making more arrests in the days ahead.

“However in order to fully investigate this incident we need the support of the local community in North Edinburgh.

“If you are have any information regarding this incident, or general information about hate crimes in the area, I would ask you to get in touch with police as soon as possible.”

In the last three months there have been two other racially motivated incidents involving taxi and delivery drivers in the North Edinburgh area. 

The first occurred in Muirhouse Drive on Monday, December 27, 2016.  A 28-year-old man was charged with racially aggravated conduct and appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday, December 29, 2016.

The second happened in Lower Granton Road on Thursday, January 19, 2017, when a 29-year-old male taxi driver was subjected to verbal abuse.  Enquiries are currently ongoing into this incident.

Inspector Stephen Sutherland of Drylaw Police Station said:  “Thankfully these types of incidents are very rare and are not a reflection of North Edinburgh or the people who live and work there.

“These crimes are committed by a small minority intent on ruining a great community spirit.  However in order to protect everyone in our community, we need all hate crimes to be reported to us.

“If you have been a victim of a hate crime you can report this to Police Scotland via 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Alternatively you can report a hate crime through a third party, such as Edinburgh Council’s North Edinburgh Neighbourhood Office and the Edinburgh Central Mosque.  More details can be found on the Police Scotland website.”