A state-of-the-art tracking system at one taxi-base has seen the number of violent of attacks on cabbies slashed.

The hi-tech satellite tracking devices mean the every move of the 15 drivers and 70 plus self-employed workers using his vehicles is monitored on a 42-inch plasma screen.

Umar Talaty, 43, is co-director of A2B, M & M Private Hire and newly acquired DMC Taxis.

By typing a driver's number into the system, he can instantly see where their cab is as well as customer details and destination.

Mr Talaty, secretary of Blackburn with Darwen Private Hire Association, said the Autocab global positioning system, developed by Stockport firm GPC, allowed staff to alert police if the driver puts a secret code into the taxi's computer which signals he or she is in danger.

Customers are also asked to supply details, including their name and destination, which are fed into a database when they ring up.

It ensures clients who flee a taxi without paying are black-listed and customers' special needs can be taken into account before a driver arrives.

Mr Talaty said since its arrival, at a total cost of £150,000, incidents of abuse and crime against his drivers had dropped significantly.

And he said the technology, believed to be one of the first, if not the first of its kind in Lancashire, has triggered an upsurge in trade as customers feel safer getting into a cab knowing their journey details and passenger name are being electronically logged.

"Before its installation there was a lot more incidents of violence, abuse, sometimes racial, and general unpleasantness," he said.

"But now with this system the number of incidents have greatly reduced.

"We now feel very confident this equipment can help secure convictions against anyone committing crimes involving our taxis."

News that technology is assisting the fight against crime has been welcomed.

PC Aidan Broughton from the road policing unit at Accrington gave his support to the technology's installation.

He said: "We welcome any use of technology that makes drivers and the public feel safer.

"And from the police point of view it should be of great assistance as it is possible to pinpoint a crash or incident within seconds."