Cabbies in Stroud are being urged to help police in the fight against crime.Police and Gloucestershire Crimestoppers have launched a new poster campaign in a bid to encourage taxi drivers to be mindful of who they are giving a lift to.

 Officers claim drivers can provide intelligence about criminals operating in the town.

The Who is in Your Taxi? initiative has been used by police forces around the country to tap into the knowledge of taxi drivers who suspect they are giving lifts to criminals.

Inspector Nick Holmes, of Stroud police, said posters and fliers had already been distributed at taxi ranks and traffic hotspots around the town.

"We know that some offenders routinely use taxis and private hire cars to carry out their criminal activities," he said.

"This could be to travel to or from a location where a crime is committed, or to courier stolen property, drugs or other illegal items from one place to another."

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) would also be handing out fliers to taxi drivers, Insp Holmes added.

And he said information could include concerns about an individual's clothing or manner or the details of a particular journey.

"We are hoping this new publicity campaign inspires taxi drivers to use the anonymity offered by the Crimestoppers line to pass on any information they may have about suspicious fares they have taken," he said.

Taxi drivers in Stroud declined to comment on the campaign.

Anyone with information on incidents in the area should contact police on 0845 090 1234, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

 
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