A NEW safety squad which aims to protect hundreds of revellers who flock to Burnley town centre has been introduced by Burnley Council and Pennine Police.

The team, which includes licensing officers and town centre police, will take to the streets about once a month to educate people about the dangers of taking into a taxi without checking the vehicle licence.

Reporter Charlotte Bradshaw joined the team on an after-dark patrol to get an insight into their work...

WHEN PC Tracy Edmondson and council licensing officer Mick Armfield hit the town it's not to enjoy the ever-increasing number of late-licensed pubs and clubs which attract hundreds of people to Burnley.

Instead, the two patrol the area checking taxis, doormen and licensed premises to make sure people are following the rules.

The move comes as police work together with the council to launch a new poster campaign to raise awareness of taxi safety. Posters will go up in pubs, clubs and other venues in the town over the next week.

They will highlight the fact that taxi touting is a criminal offence and that taxis which have been flagged down in the street, as distinct from picked up at a taxi office or rank, are not fully insured.

'Operation Faresafe' initiative launched just before Christmas has the backing of Burnley's 300-strong Private Hire Association and Hackney Carriage Associations, who said walking out of a nightclub into a taxi is no longer an option for hundreds of clubbers after they voted unanimously to outlaw touting and unofficial cab ranks outside licensed premises nearly two years ago.

Town centre Sergeant Andy Moore said: "Thanks to initiatives like Burnley Against Night-time Disorder (BAND), our town is already a much safer place in which to enjoy a safe journey home after visiting the town.

"The posters will educate visitors about taxi safety and be backed up by enforcement work by the police and council licensing officer, both of whom will be visiting cab firms to check that drivers are operating well within the law.

"Any taxi drivers found touting for trade will face tough action, with the ultimate penalty being the withdrawal of their licence."

And PC Edmondson underlined the need for revellers to ensure they had safe transport home by booking a cab before getting into one.

"We recognise the importance of getting everyone home safely and public awareness must be raised -- walking out of a nightclub into a taxi is not an option, and with over 30 hackney and 300 private hire vehicles available from designated taxi offices and ranks there is no need for passenger safety to be put at risk." She said.

Mr Armfield added: "People should make sure they give their name when booking a taxi and ask the driver to repeat it to them -- they should never jump into a private vehicle. All taxis display council licence plates, so we are urging people to be vigilant."

His advice follows police safety warnings two years ago when a teenage girl left a nightclub alone in Hammerton Street and was trying to hail a cab when she was dragged into a works yard and raped. And last year a Rossendale girl travelling from a Manchester nightclub got into an unbooked private hire cab and was subjected to a serious sexual assault.

Mr Armfield said: "We don't want to make people afraid to get into a taxi but they must be aware of the consequences if they do not book a taxi and check before they get in that it is legitimate."

Mohammed Zarait owner of M&M Taxis in St James Street, Burnley, said all the taxi firms in the town were joining forces to clamp down on the touting. He said: "We all give full support to the police and council enforcement and encourage them to take appropriate measures to punish any offenders.

"Taxis come from all over to pick people up and often park outside our offices, making it look like they are our taxis when they are actually nothing to do with us. We have regular calls in the morning from people saying they have left a mobile phone in our taxis, but they have no way of knowing if it was one of our taxis or not because they never check the company or licence plates before they get in."

PC Edmondson added: "Since we started this crackdown we have had to deal with fewer incidents where revellers have complained about certain taxis and we hope that this will continue."