POLICE have enlisted the help of taxi drivers in their fight against crime.

Under the Taxi-net scheme launched in York, the drivers have been given telephone pagers to pass on messages about everything from congestion and taxi queues to roadworks and potential late-night trouble.

It is hoped that their round-the-clock presence on the streets of the city will help police gather information about suspicious activity, while also helping to safeguard drivers and passengers.

PC Howard Smelt-Webb said: "There are about 750 taxis in York and, until now, there has been no formal partnership between them and York police.

"Taxi-net is all about promoting taxi driver safety, passenger safety, community safety, providing one key police contact point and providing a forum through regular meetings for relevant issues to be discussed.

"It is unacceptable that drivers should be subjected to aggression, abuse or violence.

"It is hoped that this new partnership will help protect drivers, passengers and the wider community."

York Taxi Association spokesman Judy Horwell said organisers had spent several months developing the scheme.

She said the association hoped that the scheme would improve the level of communication between taxi drivers, police officers and city council bosses.