A scheme pioneered in the Black Country where taxi drivers, milkmen and driving instructors act as the eyes and ears for police has been so successful it is being rolled out in other areas across the country.
The Driver Watch scheme in Halesowen and Stourbridge was the brainchild of Halesowen Pc Gary Hall. After success in cutting crime and identifying anti-social behaviour hotspots, other areas - including Erdington, Smethwick and Powys, North Wales - adopted similar schemes.
Currently more than 100 drivers are signed up to the scheme in Dudley.
They are equipped with clipboards, stickers and special leaflets to fill in if they spot suspected criminal activity.
If the drivers see anything suspicious, they call a hotline number where police officers investigate the report.Dudley Council community safety committee chairman Adrian Turner is a member of the scheme in his role as a driving instructor.
He is now calling on council bosses to include some local authority departments - such as those who work out and about on housing repairs - in Driver Watch as a pilot.
Councillor Turner said: “I would like to see the numbers taking part in Driver Watch doubled to get us up above 200.
“I really do believe we should get one or two council departments trying it as a pilot.
“Also at the moment not all taxi drivers are taking part, so they will be getting a letter from me in the next couple of weeks inviting them to come on board.
“Driver Watch is brilliant. It has moved on from looking for specific criminal activity, although of course it can still spot that.
“Now it is being used as an effective tool against anti-social behaviour - drivers are reporting people hanging around and very often they are the first people to tell police where groups go on next.
“All the information is added to police intelligence.
“It makes people who are thinking about committing crime aware there are people out there who will be watching them.”
Anyone who would like to sign up to Driver Watch can call Halesowen police on 0845 113 5000.
By Wayne Beese
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