Cab drivers get police training

BANGKOK: More than 1,500 taxi drivers and operators in Bangkok yesterday attended a training course run by police on reporting crime and suspicious acts.

"Crime has become a big problem and the police alone can't prevent it all. We need help from the public to make our society free from crime and drugs," Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt-General Thani Somboonsap told participants.

He urged taxi drivers to report any suspicious activity involving drugs and other crime to police.

Thani said he was confident taxi drivers could play an important role in detecting crime.

"There are about 80,000 taxis plying city streets 24 hours a day. Each of the drivers can help prevent crime by reporting any suspicious act," he said.

A total of 1,576 taxi drivers and operators, along with their families, attended yesterday's training course, held at the Police Club in Bang Khen district.

The programme was jointly run by the Metropolitan Police and FM 91 radio, which had recruited taxi drivers as volunteer traffic reporters, said Metropolitan Police deputy chief Maj-General Adul Sangsingkaew.

--The Nation 2004-01-19

More than 1,500 taxi drivers and operators in Bangkok yesterday attended a training course run by police on reporting crime and suspicious acts.

instead, how about the taxi drivers taking a driving course and the police doing something besides sitting at Lumpinee taking bribes all day.