A Deliveroo driver was racially abused and attacked on the job, but offered ‘no support’ by company A group of pedestrians screamed at two drivers they were “dirty Pa***” and told him to “get back to your own country”

A Deliveroo driver who was pushed to the railings and told to “get back to your own country” says the company offered no support after the racist attack.

Deliveroo driver Ibraheem, who works as a delivery driver for the company in Nottingham, felt “intimidated, harassed and distressed” after a group of pedestrians allegedly screamed that he and another Deliveroo driver were “dirty Pa***” and told him to “get back to your own country” when he intervened in a fight between a man and a fellow Deliveroo driver.

The incident, which took place just 72 hours after a Deliveroo driver was killed by a motorist in London, left Ibraheem “scared and shocked” for his life after he was attacked by five pedestrians, raising concerns over delivery driver safety for gig economy workers.

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The pair, who were verbally and physically attacked by five people, were told they were “free to take a few days off” by Deliveroo, despite the company not offering pay to injured drivers, with the representative telling Ibrahim the company could not make contact with the police on their behalf.

Pushed off a moped and thrown to the floor

Ibraheem told i he saw his colleague get knocked off his bike on a Monday evening by one of the men in the group of a five people, who harangued the driver on Upper Parliament Street when he couldn’t cross the road during a red light.

He allegedly knocked the other driver off his moped, before saying he was “going to sort this bastard out,” at which point Ibraheem attempted to intervene. However, the man continued, punching the other driver in the chest before throwing him to the floor.

When Ibraheem told the delivery driver to run away, he alleges that he was also then thrown to the railings, with the group screaming that the pair were “brown b*******”.

Ibraheem said: “I immediately held my hands up and said “It wasn’t me, I’m not involved, I was stopping the fight,” and then one of the women started screaming I should attack her, and that I was a bastard.

Another man then pulled his zip down on his jacket and shouted in my face “Come on then P***, be a man, fight me one on one.” I tried to walk back to my vehicle but the pair blocked my way. When I forced my way through, the group had surrounded my car, and screamed that I should leave my job and go back to my own country. I sat still inside my car and was unable to move due to my car being surrounded. Fifteen drivers nearby came to help me out, and then, the police came.”

‘Free to take a couple of days off’

After providing a statement to Nottinghamshire police, one woman was arrested, a spokesperson from the force confirmed, pending further enquiry.

Ibraheem, who said he was “extremely scared and shocked,” contacted his employer, who said that they could move his working area, but offered no further support.

On the call, the Deliveroo worker offered their condolences and offered to change the driver’s working area, but said they were not able to contact the police on the pair’s behalf, adding that Ibraheem was “free to take a couple of days off,” without offering him any sick pay for doing so.

As it stands, Deliveroo workers receive no holiday or sick pay if they sustain an injury on the job.

“This incident made me feel extremely scared and shocked, I was that scared that I was shaking,” Ibraheem said.

“I was extremely fearful for my life and other riders around the country due to the events that had happened in London a few days ago. The racial language and abuse that I received during this incident has made me feel extremely upset, intimidated, harassed and distressed.

“No-one has the right to racially abuse me, the racist language used is extremely unacceptable and hurtful and should not be tolerated in this day and age. I am worried that if this happened in a less public area the outcome may have been worse,” he added.

Alex Marshall, chairman of IWGB Couriers’ Branch, told i: “there is a genuine risk to life when you step out on a bike.”

“There’s a chance your life could be ended on the road, whether it’s through an accident or a violent crime. It adds insult to injury when we get zero support and don’t even take home minimum wage,” the courier said.

“We get abused everywhere we go, while Deliveroo takes zero accountability. Who is going to pay for Ibraheem to have those two days off?”

“We’re precarious low paid workers, and this is the risk we take, without any company support, to get a takeaway to your door.”

Concerns over delivery driver safety

The incident has raised concerns about food delivery driver safety, with the attack occurring 36 hours after the fatal stabbing of an UberEats and Deliveroo driver in Finsbury Park, London.

The Algerian national, 30, was killed by a motorist in an altercation on the roads around 6pm on Friday evening, and was pronounced dead at the scene an hour later.

Leader of the opposition and local MP Jeremy Corbyn said the tragic event signalled that working conditions need to improve for delivery drivers.

“There are a lot of people working as delivery drivers, they must have better conditions of employment and employers must take more responsibility for their safety too,” he said.

“Police cuts have meant fewer officers on the streets, and this raises issues of safety in the community in general.”

A Nottinghamshire police spokesperson said: “A report was filed on Monday that a victim stopped to break up a fight and was approached and racially abused. That happened on Monday 6 January around 8.15pm in Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham. A 21-year-old woman has been arrested and subsequently released under investigation pending further enquiries. Enquiries are continuing and if anyone has any further information, call 101.”

A Deliveroo spokesperson said: “We take the protection and safety of riders extremely seriously and provide a dedicated 24/7 rider support to assist riders with any accident, assault or safety concerns.