The City of St. John’s is welcoming Jiffy Cabs into the Neighbourhood Watch program with open arms.
“I think this is a great idea,” said Mayor Danny Breen, ahead of a unanimous council vote approving pursuit of a Neighbourhood Watch partnership with the taxi company.
He said other companies are welcome as well.
The expectation is more than 200 drivers with Jiffy Cabs will become part of the same program as the city’s 29 active community-based Neighbourhood Watches, according to Coun. Deanne Stapleton.
Speaking with reporters, she said the city will develop a formal memorandum of understanding with the company to address any legal concerns and specify the exact role of drivers and dispatchers.
A logo will be applied to company taxis to identify them as part of the safety program, “so that if anybody is in distress or whatever, they can certainly go to a Jiffy cab and get some help,” she said.
Stapleton said the cab company has completed driver background checks and undertaken training programs related to customer service and sensitivity.
The company will cover the cost of the added signage, she said.
