for females is introduced in the wake of the murder of Canadian schoolgirl Rebecca Middleton.

And the move was backed by Rebecca's grieving father David Middleton -- in Bermuda to see the collapse of the case against Justis Smith on Tuesday.

Mr. Middleton said: "It is one of the things about the taxi industry here which amazed me and that was never really talked about.

"This is an absolutely terrible thing to have happened but nothing in Bermuda has really changed.

"People in Bermuda are pretty complacent -- you get a lot of talk but you don't see much action.

"There's been a lot of talk but nothing has happened. This is the sort of thing which would start to make Bermuda a safer place.'' Mr. Middleton added: "There is nothing we can do to bring Becky back, but there are things which could be done to stop it happening to someone else.'' The Supreme Court jury heard evidence Ms Middleton and friend Jasmine Meens called three times for a taxi before accepting lifts from men on bikes.

Ms Meens got home safely -- but Ms Middleton was tortured, raped and stabbed to death in the 1996 killing which shocked the Island.

In a letter to the Editor, Paget woman Carol Rintoul said: "It is heart-breaking that this young woman's horrible death could have been avoided if only a taxi -- called for three times -- had arrived.'' She added: "We need a taxi service we can depend on when we are vulnerable.

We need taxis at all hours of the day and night and we need a taxi industry that guarantees us good service in remote locations.'' Ms Rintoul said that priority dispatch system should be introduced as soon as possible.

And she added: "We need an honest answer when no taxi is available so that we can make other arrangements.'' Ms Rintoul said: "I call on the women in Bermuda and the men who care about their safety to boycott the taxis whenever it is safe and practical for them to do so.

"Maybe then the taxi industry, which has already had two-and-a-half years to address this, will be prepared to provide us with the service we need.

"Let us send a clear message to the taxi drivers and dispatchers. Our safety and even our lives may depend on their good service.'' And she called on new Transport Minister Ewart Brown and the Women's Resource Centre to take a lead role in getting taxi firms to change their policy.

Mr. Middleton urged concerned members of the public to petition MPs, and write to The Royal Gazette to improve safety for women on the streets of Bermuda.

He said: "If people take it upon themselves to do so, they could make things better.

"And when they talk to their Member of Parliament, they should tell them that they will remember what they have committed to.

"I don't think I should mess in other peoples' countries -- it's up to the people of Bermuda to make changes.

"But if people don't take enough interest, nothing will happen.'' The Royal Gazette highlighted the taxi problem only days after Ms Middleton's death -- and taxi industry chiefs promised to examine their system.

Many UK taxi owners' associations have given automatic priority to late-night calls from women -- as do breakdown services like the Automobile Association and the Royal Automobile Club.

Dr. Brown said he would urge people to be "more positive and creative'' before considering a boycott.

But he added: "That is a reasonable tool if other avenues are closed.'' And he said: "I'm willing to listen to anyone who can help the taxi industry as a whole move forward.'' Dr. Brown added: "The Taxi Advisory Board will no longer simply be composed of taxi drivers -- it will have people, including women, who simply ride in taxis.'' Women's Resource Centre chief Penny Dill did not back a boycott -- on safety grounds.

But she said: "If there was enough response from the community and people are concerned about this, we would approach the taxi industry and even the Transport Ministry and ask them if there was a possibility of working something out.'' Bermuda Industrial Union boss Derrick Burgess -- whose union has a taxi section -- said the taxi service deteriorated after a previous Government had radios taken out of taxis.

But he added: "Women and children, young people, we should be protecting them in any way we can. We don't want them in danger.

"The taxi drivers want to service this Country to the best of their ability and if they can assist in ensuring the safety of their passengers, I'm sure they will consider it.'' TRANSPORTATION TRA