Police and taxi smartphone app join forces to ferry Scottish students home safely

GRAMPIAN Police has become the first force in Scotland to help young students and other revellers in Aberdeen city centre to get home safely by taxi - using a new smart phone app.

• Grampian Police team up with phone app company to offer safety advice and information on taxi services to students

• App allows users to order taxis from any street or venue

The force has teamed up with a phone app company, Whaap Ltd, to deliver safety advice and information on taxi services to people socialising in the city centre. to coincide with the influx of new students to Aberdeen for the start of the new academic years at the city’s two universities.

Constable Kevin Murray, from the force’s crime reduction unit, said the aim of the scheme as to prevent people socialising in and around the city centre becoming victims of crime.

And he explained: “In this endeavour we have been joined by a new company Whaapp Limited whom have created TaxiApp, an app that you can download to your smart phone which then allows you to order a taxi to pick you up from whatever street or venue you are at.

“The use of this app should reduce the number of persons who have to walk home in unfamiliar surroundings and who do not know the contact details for local public transport.”

PC Murray added: “The company have also allowed us to place safety tips onto their website and phone app so that each time a person goes onto it they should be able to view this new graphic. This assists in passing on the valuable information to those students and other users who would not read or even think to take a leaflet.”

TaxiApp automatically picks up your location allowing users to hit only one more button before a taxi is on its way, not only that but the taxi will give you a call when it arrives to let you know its outside.”