Taxi Driver Online

Weymouth Taxi Watch scheme is going national

12:00pm Friday 1st July 2011

A crime-busting scheme launched in Weymouth is proving so successful that it is being shown off to other police forces.

The Weymouth Taxi Watch scheme involves local cab drivers sharing information with the police and security camera operators.

Several vehicles have been fitted with radio equipment linked directly to the CCTV control room.

Dozens of arrests have been made thanks to the scheme, which effectively provides the police with an extra sets of eyes and ears, particularly at night when the streets are filled with drinkers.

Police officers based in Newbury, Berkshire, heard about the scheme’s success and wanted to see how it worked.

A visit by PC Peter Sutherland and PCSO Paul Smith of Thames Valley Police was hosted by Weymouth Police’s Safer Neighbourhood Team and the Weymouth and Portland Hackney Carriage Association.

After meeting with Taxi Watch chairman Nigel Richardson and PCs Tom Steadman and Rich Shirley they visited the CCTV control room before walking around town.

The visiting officers were impressed and said they were keen to implement something similar in their area.

Chairman of Weymouth Taxi Watch Nigel Richardson said: “Although Taxi Watch is still in its infancy, as a public safety partnership initiative with Dorset Police it continues to go from strength to strength."

“The initial article published by the Dorset Echo in November 2010 and republished by the trades’ main journal has enabled Taxi Watch to gain recognition nationally.”

Mr Richardson, who also chairs the Weymouth and Portland Hackney Carriage Association, added: “The local taxi trade is delighted that Thames Valley Police have shown significant interest in what we have established.

“Taxi Watch continues to create a safer working environment for Weymouth’s taxi and private hire drivers, building on the links we already have with Dorset Police.”

Sergeant Dave Hughes said: “In a short space of time the Taxi Watch Scheme has proved its worth. With the assistance of its members, perpetrators of assaults, criminal damage and drink drivers have been arrested. Without that valuable assistance those offenders may never have been brought to justice.”

Sgt Hughes described the scheme as a ‘win, win, win situation.’ He explained: “Taxi drivers are afforded extra security, police have extra eyes and ears out and about, and the public have more people contributing to making Weymouth and Portland a safer place.

“A big thank you must go to Nigel Richardson without whom none of this would have come about.”

Source; http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/911694 ... _national/

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Brummie Cabbie.

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And here is a comment, posted online after the article;

Crabber, big_ears8@hotmail.co.uk says...
6:27pm Fri 1 Jul 11

Yes thats right help the Police out and when you want the Police to help you out in return you get a negative response. Twice since January a Taxi Driving Friend of mine has had two people run off without paying the required fare. They have contacted the Police with descriptions and even had CCTV footage of the perpetrators taken from inside the Taxi. As usual the Police did absolutely nothing to catch these police.They the Police will I expect let it carry on until a Taxi Driver is assaulted. Let's hope they are willing to take action then ?.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Judging by the above post....perhaps this taxi watch scheme is exactly what it says on the box......a scheme that watches taxis

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin