Hundreds of taxi drivers in Bolton are set to become the eyes and ears of the police to help tackle crime on the town’s streets.
Local taxi firm, Metro, has signed up to a new police scheme. ‘Dawn Watch’ will see night-time and early-morning workers join officers in the fight against crime. Police believe that this scheme can help put more offenders behind bars and officers will be able to call on the 400 taxi drivers to enlist their help and local knowledge in investigating crime.
Metro cabbies will receive a special card with contact details for officers. Police have stressed however that the drivers have no legal powers and must not put themselves in any danger when reporting crime. The company has about 100 taxis on the road during the week and 200 to 250 at the weekend.
Metro company director Nicholas Astley said: “Taxi drivers hear all kinds of things, so this is a great idea. They know a heck of a lot, they see a lot of things going on and, if they have a way of reporting crime without having to get too involved, then I’m all for it.”
Cabbies will join milkmen, shift workers and staff who deliver newspapers to watch out for, and report, suspicious behaviour. The taxi boss said it would be up to individual drivers if they wanted to give their contact details to police.
Police Chief Inspector Alan Wood said: “There are many recent cases where information from the public has proved to be the final piece of the jigsaw that helped us to put offenders away and stop them spreading misery in our communities.”
The Dawn Watch wallet-sized cards issued to participants in the scheme will also have advice on what clues and pieces of information the police’s volunteer “spies” should collect. These include the date, time and location of incidents, as well as any relevant names, addresses and telephone numbers they may know.
Taxi drivers will also be asked to report details such as height, build, hair and clothing of suspects, as well as makes, models, colours and registration details of any vehicles involved in possible crimes.