A massive 85 per cent of private hire drivers fear race riots will hit the streets of the UK again this summer, a GMB survey shows.
In the poll, answered by almost 400 drivers, 85 per cent said they believe riots or similar acts of violence may happen again this year.
Drivers were worried future violence would impact their families 77 per cent) and their livelihoods (82 per cent)
Results from the survey will be delivered to GMB’s annual congress in Brighton today [Tuesday]
Almost half (46 per cent) said they were hit by the riots last summer, either directly or indirectly.
Drivers described being threatened with knives and machetes, racially abused and having stones thrown at their cars.
Many reported being too scared to work, while one said they carried a baseball bat in their car to ward off attackers.
One said it was ‘just heartbreaking to witness humanity at its worst’.
Eamon O’Hearn, GMB national officer , said:
“These terrifying survey results show our private hire drivers were on the front line of last year’s riots, and a huge majority fear they may happen again this summer.”
One respondent said:
“I passed by a mosque and had several people approach me with knives and machetes so I speeded up and did the quickest U-turn ever and got out of there.”
Another driver said:
“I do not feel safe in the United Kingdom any more, I have started to carry my own baseball bats as I am in fear of having acid thrown at me.”
