Assaults on taxi drivers need to be treated as an attack on front line workers.
That's according to the National Private Hire Taxi Association, who say many attackers are given suspended sentences.
The issue is in the spotlight again following an assault on a taxi driver in the early hours of Saturday morning on Grand Parade.
Jim Waldron, from the NPHTA, says tougher sentences could help prevent attacks from happening:
"We find that assaults, that do get to courts, are treated in a light manner. A lot of people are getting suspended sentences and we think this is wrong. We think it should be treated as an attack on frontline workers, and should be treated more severely, and maybe that might give some consideration to people who are going to assault a taxi driver".
