• About Us
    • What Is Street Harassment?
    • Why Stopping Street Harassment Matters
    • Meet the Team
      • Board of Directors
      • Past Board Members
    • In The Media
  • Our Work
    • National Street Harassment Hotline
    • International Anti-Street Harassment Week
    • Blog Correspondents
      • Past SSH Correspondents
    • Safe Public Spaces Mentoring Program
    • Publications
    • National Studies
    • Campaigns against Companies
    • Washington, D.C. Activism
  • Our Books
  • Donate
  • Store

Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Blog
    • Harassment Stories
    • Blog Correspondents
    • Street Respect Stories
  • Help & Advice
    • National Street Harassment Hotline
    • Dealing With Harassers
      • Assertive Responses
      • Reporting Harassers
      • Bystander Responses
      • Creative Responses
    • What to Do Before or After Harassment
    • Street Harassment and the Law
  • Resources
    • Definitions
    • Statistics
    • Articles & Books
    • Anti-Harassment Groups & Campaigns
    • Male Allies
      • Educating Boys & Men
      • How to Talk to Women
      • Bystander Tips
    • Video Clips
    • Images & Flyers
  • Take Community Action
  • Contact

Perth Taxi Driver Charged with Sexual Assault

July 10, 2009 By HKearl

A few months ago I wrote about an alleged sexual aggression toward a female passenger by a taxi driver in Brisbane, Australia, which prompted authorities in the area to warn females not to take taxis alone late at night (how helpful – not).

Well, now I just read about a taxi driver in Perth, Western Australia, who allegedly sexually assaulted a passenger in February and is now being charged with that crime.

“”It will be alleged the 22-year-old female victim was being driven home in a taxi from Fremantle and the driver took her to an industrial area in Malaga and sexually assaulted her,” police spokesman Samuel Dinnison said.

Mr Dinnison said it was alleged the taxi driver then drove the woman to his house and left her there.

Sex assault squad officers located the taxi driver last night and charged him with two counts of sexual penetration without consent.

He will appear in the Midland Magistrates Court on Tuesday, July 14.”

How horrible for the young woman. I hope he is charged and that his sentence deterrs any other taxi drivers from engaging in assault… Horrible horrible.

Share

Filed Under: News stories Tagged With: Australia, perth, sexual assault, street harassment, taxi

Cab Driver Allegedly Assaults Passenger in L.A.

June 10, 2009 By HKearl

In Los Angeles, California, a cab driver has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a female passenger. Unlike the recent incident in Malaysia where it sounds like the cab driver was assaulting women in the cab, this cab driver followed the woman into her home and assaulted her there. After the woman called the police, the cab company fully cooperated with the police and the driver was arrested last week.

“The L.A. Department of Transportation is stressing that with 2,300 licensed cab drivers in the city of L.A., taking a cab is still a safe way to get around town.” – via ABC local news

I think this is better advice – free from fear-mongering – than the advice given to women in Australia after a cab driver became aggressive toward a female passenger: “The best thing to do is not to travel alone at night.” Some advice, huh? It’s not realistic for everyone to avoid being out alone at night and it places the responsibility for avoiding the problem with the women instead of the perpetrators.

The LAPD believes there could be other victims and urges anyone with information to call the LAPD at (877) 527-3247.

Share

Filed Under: Administrator Tagged With: abc news, Australia, cab, female passenger, los angeles, maylasia, sexual assault, taxi

Street Harassment Round Up – May 10

May 10, 2009 By HKearl

Stories:

In Toronto, a contributor tells how she got two men kicked out of a restaurant for groping another customer.

As mentioned last week, since April 26, HollaBack NYC has been posting one photo a day of street harassers. They will continue to do so for a month. All of the photos are being submitted by one woman, Sally N., a New York City resident. Emily at HollaBack NYC says, “We believe these pictures tell the story of what it’s like to be a woman in the big apple.” Visit HollaBack NYC to see these photos.

For a new international perspective, read some of the new street harassment stories in Mauritius.

At Holla Back DC, a contributor tells how she was walking to meet friends and a man asked her how much for her body… (Ugh!)

Website Launch:

The anti-street harassment website in Mauritius (near South Africa) officially launched this week!

In the News:

  • A woman was allegedly sexually harassed by a taxi driver in Australia
  • A street harasser in India was sentenced to sweeping at a hospital.
  • Women-only subway cars may be introduced in Beijing to help cut down on groping.
Share

Filed Under: Administrator Tagged With: Australia, Beijing, catcalling, India, Mauritius, Stories, street harassment, weekly round up

Taxi "Terror" in Australia

May 3, 2009 By HKearl

According to Star News in Australia in an article with the classy title “Taxi terror prompts a warning for women,”

“A young woman said she was forced to flee a taxi and hide in the early hours of Sunday morning after the driver became aggressive when she rejected his sleazy advances.”

She filed a report with the police and the taxi company. The police chief said he,

“was unaware of her allegations but urged taxi passengers to remain vigilant. ‘The best thing to do is not to travel alone at night and don’t get in the front seat at any time.'”

Photo from ABC News
Photo from ABC News

How realistic is it for everyone to not take a taxi by oneself? Instead of saying something about how the police force would do all they could to investigate the allegations and/or pass new measures to make sure passengers are safe with taxi drivers, he focused on putting the responsibility for safety unfairly and sometimes unrealistically in the hands of the passengers. Not helpful!

The taxi company’s response was a bit more helpful. Peter Valentine said they will investigate the woman’s allegation and that the taxi company is currently in discussions about installing scanners to facilitate “safe city taxi ranks.” Much more helpful than telling people to not ride in taxis alone.

A few months ago, I wrote a blog post about women taxi drivers and women-only taxi services and discovered that in Brisbane, Australia, there are women-driven cabs for women passengers precisely because of male drivers harassing female passengers. I’m not a proponent of women-only forms of public transportation as a long-term solution because ultimately men’s harassing behavior must end, but I am curious to find out how the women only taxi service is going.

Share

Filed Under: Administrator, News stories Tagged With: Australia, Brisbane, cab, Geelong West, sexual harassment, street harassment, taxi, women-only taxis

Taxi “Terror” in Australia

May 3, 2009 By HKearl

According to Star News in Australia in an article with the classy title “Taxi terror prompts a warning for women,”

“A young woman said she was forced to flee a taxi and hide in the early hours of Sunday morning after the driver became aggressive when she rejected his sleazy advances.”

She filed a report with the police and the taxi company. The police chief said he,

“was unaware of her allegations but urged taxi passengers to remain vigilant. ‘The best thing to do is not to travel alone at night and don’t get in the front seat at any time.'”

Photo from ABC News
Photo from ABC News

How realistic is it for everyone to not take a taxi by oneself? Instead of saying something about how the police force would do all they could to investigate the allegations and/or pass new measures to make sure passengers are safe with taxi drivers, he focused on putting the responsibility for safety unfairly and sometimes unrealistically in the hands of the passengers. Not helpful!

The taxi company’s response was a bit more helpful. Peter Valentine said they will investigate the woman’s allegation and that the taxi company is currently in discussions about installing scanners to facilitate “safe city taxi ranks.” Much more helpful than telling people to not ride in taxis alone.

A few months ago, I wrote a blog post about women taxi drivers and women-only taxi services and discovered that in Brisbane, Australia, there are women-driven cabs for women passengers precisely because of male drivers harassing female passengers. I’m not a proponent of women-only forms of public transportation as a long-term solution because ultimately men’s harassing behavior must end, but I am curious to find out how the women only taxi service is going.

Share

Filed Under: Administrator, News stories Tagged With: Australia, Brisbane, cab, Geelong West, sexual harassment, street harassment, taxi, women-only taxis

« Previous Page

Share Your Story

Share your street harassment story for the blog. Donate Now

From the Blog

  • #MeToo 2024 Study Released Today
  • Join International Anti-Street Harassment Week 2022
  • Giving Tuesday – Fund the Hotline
  • Thank You – International Anti-Street Harassment Week 2021
  • Share Your Story – Safecity and Catcalls Collaboration

Buy the Book

  • Contact
  • Events
  • Join Us
  • Donate
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 Stop Street Harassment · Website Design by Sarah Marie Lacy