The pilot scheme, run by Aylesbury Vale District Council, will provide visitors with a safe and convenient way to get a taxi home after a night out in the town.

The marshals, who start this weekend, will be on duty in Exchange Street (outside Chicago's) and in the Kingsbury area from 11pm to 4am on Friday, Saturday and Monday nights. They will ensure only licensed cabs pick up passengers, stop queue jumping, and discourage all forms of anti-social behaviour.

The marshals will wear high visibility fluorescent jackets, and will be linked to the police and local venues by radio. Their duties will include:

·Ensuring queues are orderly and that they operate efficiently for taxi drivers and users
·Ensuring passengers properly dispose of any bottles, glasses, cans and fast food before getting on board
·Preventing fights and aggressive behaviour
·Reporting any misbehaviour to police before it escalates, or to venues before it reaches their doors

The marshals will also be there to ensure revellers get into the right licensed vehicle. Only white-plated Hackney cabs can be hailed in the streets within Aylesbury's boundaries and sit on taxi ranks. Private hire vehicles (which have yellow license plates) must be booked in advance and are not allowed to be flagged down as their insurance doesn't cover this.

The taxi marshals are fully trained and SIA (Security Industry Authority) badged and regulated. The security company supplying the taxi marshals will liaise with the licensing team at AVDC and provide regular reports on the progress of the initiative, including details of any incidents.

The pilot scheme, funded by AVDC, will run from September 21 2007 to January 2008. Its success will then be assessed, based on the number of incidents, and feedback from taxi users, drivers, residents and businesses.

Taxi marshalling has already proved successful in other districts across the country. Research has shown that the introduction of taxi marshals has been a valuable measure in improving travel safety at night.

Cllr Judy Brandis, Chairman of the Licensing Committee, said: "We acknowledge that anti-social behaviour and violent crime can occur once people leave pubs and nightclubs. By introducing taxi marshals, we can try and ensure that people are able to leave the town centre as safely and quickly as possible to reduce this risk.

"Taxi marshals have been tried successfully elsewhere and we are very keen to support such initiatives identified as best practice for the benefit of Aylesbury. This scheme will help strengthen Aylesbury's night-time economy and the town's reputation as a vibrant, welcoming and safe place to visit."

The scheme has the backing of Thames Valley Police.

Superintendent Carole Haveron, Aylesbury Vale LPA Commander, said: "Public safety is our number one priority and with the new marshals this will help to reduce anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related violence. This will also hopefully reassure the public; they can go out and enjoy a night out safely. We welcome this new initiative and we will continue to work with our partners to help make Aylesbury a safer place to enjoy a night out."

For more information on travel safety at night, visit the website at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk or call the licensing team on 01296 585150.

What do you think of this story?

To comment on this or any other Bucks Herald story, click here.

To post comments directly on this website, click on the Comment on this Story link below