A county – wide initiative which encourages taxi and bus drivers to be the eyes and ears on Hertfordshire’s transport services has launched in Three Rivers.
‘Transport Watch’ was launched during Neighbourhood Watch week (June 18 to 26). It will also aim to keep those working on transport networks up to date with crime trends and crime prevention advice relevant to them. These updates will be communicated on our OWL (Online Watch Link) and people can register online at: www.owl.co.uk.
Bus and taxi drivers will also be able to help police with missing persons, look for stolen vehicles and keep an eye out for any crime or anti-social behaviour they may come across whilst driving.
It is hoped all bus and taxi companies which operate in Hertfordshire will sign up online in the coming weeks and months. So far over 90 cab firms and 15 bus companies have signed up countywide, with the numbers still growing.
The official launch was at Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth WD3 1ZR.
Chorleywood PCSO and Three Rivers Watch Liaison Officer Gareth Williams said: “The launch of Transport Watch is the result of months of hard work between the Police, the drivers and our partner agencies. The level of togetherness shown so far will undoubtedly help prevent and detect crime as well as making peoples’ journeys that much safer.”
“We have hundreds of drivers working in Three Rivers and Watford so there is great potential for making a difference. This scheme is open to Hackney Carriage drivers as well as private hire."
Jan Jenks, from local Taxi for Abbotts cars, said: “Abbots Cars are proud to be the first local company to endorse Transport Watch with Hertfordshire Police and Three Rivers District Council. Our drivers will be the supporting eyes and ears of the Hertfordshire Police Force with the ability to assist someone in immediate need, or alert the police as and when needed, this information can also be relayed back to the Taxi Watch network.”
Those who sign up can also claim stickers to display in their taxi cabs and buses to advertise that they belong to the scheme and/or ones that discourage fare evasion.
Chief Inspector Mike Marren, Chief Inspector for Three Rivers, said: “We are proud to be launching Transport Watch in Three Rivers. It aims to prevent and solve crime by using the area’s transport network, and more widely across the county, whilst also making journeys for passengers and drivers alike safer.”
