Charity children's taxi outing cancelled after police 'policy change'

A long-running charity event led by black cab drivers in Edinburgh has been cancelled, after police said they were unable to provide a motorbike escort.

The Edinburgh Taxi Outing has run for 80 years, taking children with special needs, life-limiting conditions and terminal illnesses for a day out in East Lothian.

Organisers said that without a police escort they would get stuck in traffic and could not guarantee the safety and comfort of the children.

Police Scotland blamed a "policy change" for the decision but said they would work with organisers to explore alternative options.

It is understood that there has been a change to the rules around which events police can provide motorbike escorts.

However there may be a glimmer of hope for the future of the event amid suggestions that Police Scotland may have misinterpreted the policy.

Keith J Bell, secretary of the Edinburgh Taxi Outing, said the senior police officer who drew up the policy had told him it only applied to football events.

Bell said that Police Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council have "always supported us over the years".

They allowed a convoy of taxis to take children from Edinburgh Zoo through the capital to Archerfield Walled Garden in East Lothian.

He added: "The outing would not have happened without the support of the motorcycle unit, and as that support has been withdrawn due to the new policy, we have had no option but to cancel the outing.

"The children participating on the outing have a variety of needs and some will not manage to cope with sitting stationary for who knows how long waiting for the taxis at the back to catch up.

"So as our number one priority has been, and always will be the comfort and safety of the children, we have reluctantly decided to cancel this year's outing."

Later he told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast that he had contacted Mark Roberts, the chief constable of Cheshire Police, who wrote the policy.

Roberts, who is also the national lead for football at the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), was confused by the decision, he said.

"I emailed him and within an hour he had personally responded to me," said Bell.

"He told me the policy he thought Police Scotland referred to was only to be applied to football coaches, match officials and referees.

"So he couldn't understand why it was being applied to us. He said, 'I'm as confused about this as you are.'

"So he said he will contact Police Scotland to see what is going on. But at this time I really don't know what is happening."

A spokesperson for the NCPC said: "The NPCC develops national policy on behalf of all forces to provide clarity and consistency across policing.

"Forces are operationally independent, so it is for an individual force to carefully consider how a policy is applied in any given circumstance."

Ch Insp Craig Rogerson, of Police Scotland, confirmed he had spoken to organisers of the event, which was planned for 9 June.

He said: "We remain committed to working constructively with the organising committee and other key delivery partners to explore alternative options that would allow the event to proceed safely."

Meanwhile an emergency motion has been put forward by the council to find a solution.

Council leader Jane Meagher said: "The annual Children's Taxi Drivers' Outing has been a much-loved fixture in the city's calendar since the 1940s, providing a fun and memorable day out for some of Edinburgh's most vulnerable children.

"I really hope a solution can be found to allow the event to go ahead as planned this year."