Recently, several taxi drivers in Denmark have been involved in serious cases of passenger assaults. On Monday, a 40-year-old former taxi driver appeared before the Copenhagen City Court, facing charges of having assaulted multiple women. This case is just one of many recent incidents where male drivers have either been accused, charged, or convicted of offenses such as sexual harassment and rape against female passengers.

The alleged crimes committed by the 40-year-old took place during the late-night hours in January. According to the prosecution, one of the women was so intoxicated that she was unable to provide consent or resist. As a result, the man is charged with rape without intercourse, as well as several counts of sexual harassment, which include inappropriate touching and attempts to kiss the women. It remains unclear which taxi company he was affiliated with.

Michael Møller Nielsen, the CEO of Danish Public Transport (Dansk Person Transport – DPT), states that every incident of assault is one too many. Although such events are rare, Nielsen emphasizes that they should never occur. In light of this, DPT is planning to discuss the issue at their upcoming board meeting for the taxi sector, aiming to prevent future incidents.

DPT is the industry association for bus and taxi operators in Denmark. When a report of assault is received, companies review the video surveillance from their taxis. A confirmed accusation leads to an immediate dismissal of the driver involved, explains Michael Møller Nielsen. He also points out that there are clear guidelines and requirements for clean criminal records for all drivers. Several taxi offices have reached out to their operators and drivers in response to the recent cases to ensure extra attention is given to protecting passenger safety and well-being.

The court’s ruling in the case against the 40-year-old taxi driver is expected to be delivered on Wednesday, August 7.