2 DECEMBER 1978, Page 18

a : bbi le e x s an A der Chancellor was vvis. e indeed to retreat from

his offending .taxi' driver (Spectator, 25 November). Not long ago, I hailed a taxi with its fc'r Hire' sign on. The driver told me that he was travelling in the opposite direction from my intended destination. Aware of, my rights, I told him that he was oblige° to take me. I jumped into the taxi as the driHveer took k off.

drove me to Chelsea pollee, station. The driver then put his side. 0" our encounter to a police officer, saYing that I was abusive and obviously drunk. l told the officer that I was not in the least abusive and as sober as a healthy young man could be expected to be at tw° o'clock in the morning. Thereupon, the. taxi-driver was dismissed and I was tolu by the police officer that if I wasn't eot of 'his' police station double quick. I would be arrested and charged with 'being home. a suspicious person'. I weikeu The conclusion that taxi-drivers are above the law and police officers UChelsea uninterested in enforcing it is one that I find difficult to resist. 1VIY advice to Mr Chancellor is that he disguise himself as an Arab. He will then discover that all taxi-drivers are the salt of the earth and that all British policemen are wonderful.

David Richardson Eagle Lodge, Mile End, Colchester