Talking taxis

Crimestoppers launched a new initiative to work in partnership with the 35,000 licensed private hire and taxi drivers in the whole of Yorkshire and Humberside.

The initiative was the largest ever run by Crimestoppers in this region, with almost 50,000 cards and posters being mailed out or hand delivered to all the drivers and taxi offices.

With large numbers of un-licensed and un-roadworthy vehicles being taken from the roads, there is evidence to suggest that growing numbers of offenders are using taxis and private hire vehicles to travel to and from crime scenes, either to transport stolen property, drugs or other contraband items.

Drivers often see where people go to buy drugs, or to sell stolen property.

They may also inadvertently transport people away from crime scenes and later become aware of the crimes that have been committed. If they don't feel they can tell the police for any reason, they can make one anonymous phone call to Crimestoppers and pass on the information without any risk of the subject finding out.

Taxi and private hire drivers provide a tremendous service to the public, working mainly in isolation and at times in other than the best of circumstances. We want to help them by dissuading the criminal element from embroiling them unwittingly into becoming involved with offenders.

Taxi drivers can possess some extremely valuable information by virtue of being around 24/7. We want to make it easier for them to pass that information on by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Lots of our callers tell us that passengers turn up at addresses in taxis to either sell stolen property or buy drugs. We want the drivers to pass their suspicions onto us.