Why not use taxis as an effective crime control tool? They roam around the cities 24 hrs. a day in numbers many fold than the patrolling capacity of our police force.
A lot of taxi drivers are capable of doing much more than driving a taxi.Why not set a criteria and pick up the most eligible and train them for carrying out simple police tasks for which our police department has always <budget excuses>.
They are given police badge with limited powers.
More detailed work can be done once the original idea is considered favourably.
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I don't know how cab drivers would feel about the added responsibilities, but they could certainly help out a little. If we ask them to do more than simply report things they see, they will have to be trained which would cost a lot. Cabbies also have a regular job to do. They can't afford to stand around refereeing domestic disputes.
I like the idea. It's like a neighbourhood watch for cabbies, yes it would involve training, but it is worthwhile.
I think there is a similar system here in the UK but it is not applied to taxi drivers, instead it focuses some minimal training on an average bod giving them slightly elavated jurisdiction and knowledge than the average person.
Leave aside everything.
Put this idea before the taxi drivers union and see
HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS ARE WILLING TO JOIN THEIR HANDS TO THE WELFARE OF THEIR OWN SOCIETY?--OF COURSE UNPAID?
if you find the response worth proceeding, go ahead, otherwise you always have the simpler choices.
DROP IT.
What about a button in a cab for "Call Cops"? Thus the cabbies wouldn't have to do the leg work (and therefore would not be in danger). They would just act as eyes and ears for the police. Some sort of outstanding public citizen certificate to go with it wouldn't hurt participation
Anybody who owns a cell phone can call the police when they see something going on.
maybe simple cameras attached to cabs, but cabbies as part-time cops, no way.
First off, cabbies only make money if they're working... They already have to "rent/lease" their cab from the company for the day/night, plus they have to share their take with the company as well (generally along the lines of 50%)... add to that the fact they have to pay for their own gas? They wouldn't want to do this extra 'service' for free.
Second, most cab drivers only drive a cab because they've got no other skills and/or current employment elsewhere... The "most eligible" among them aren't going to be the cream of the crop.
Third, before giving them any police powers (limited or not) -- can we get them to 1. Shower regularly 2. Speak/understand whatever the local language is, and 3. Learn how to drive without endangering everyone else in/out of the vehicle for 3 square miles?