TAXI drivers in Worcester are facing kidnap and assault charges as they take the law into their own hands over unpaid fares.

It has been revealed that several drivers have already felt the long arm of the law because of their frustration over the ever-increasing matter.

Now the Worcester Taxi Drivers' Association has called for an emergency meeting with police to seek advice on what they should do.

Anne Murphy, secretary for the group, said non-payment is a criminal offence, but officers did not see it as high on their list of priorities.

As a result, she announced that taxi drivers are locking people in cars until they pay or are getting into fights with them.

Ms Murphy said: "As far as we are concerned, someone refusing to pay up is a police matter, but they see it as unimportant.

"Worcester is now being seen as an easy target because people know there is nothing drivers can do. If they hang around at a scene, they are losing more money, and if they try to do something about, they are in danger of being arrested themselves.

"One man locked some people in his cab and took them to the nearest police station. He was arrested and charged with kidnapping.

Another got involved in a scuffle and was arrested for assault.

"We are trying to make an honest living here and a lack of police action is creating an awful lot of ill-feeling."

There are 311 registered drivers in Worcester, with more than 200 regularly working on Friday and Saturday nights. It is estimated that unpaid fares on both nights often go into the double, and even, triple, figures.

The Taxi Drivers Association has started to ask for fares up-front, but this in itself has led to disputes as people feel they are being labelled untrustworthy.

It has now asked to sit down with police to see what drivers should do to make sure they are not arrested themselves, and yet still receive their money.

Ms Murphy added: "Something has to be done before there is free-for-all in the city and chaos breaks out."

Worcester Police failed to comment on the problem, despite being contacted several times by the Worcester News, and being first asked for a statement last Friday.