POLICE in Devizes have warned that they will prosecute people who fail to pay taxi fares.

The warning follows a number of incidents in which members of the public have made off from taxis without paying their fares.

Two people have been charged with making off without payment and the police say they will not hesitate to prosecute any other offenders.

PC Matt Fox of Devizes police said: "We have had numerous reports of people making off without payment after having taken rides in taxis.

"It has been happening usually on Friday and Saturday nights.

"Some people, when they get to their destination, have got out of the taxi pretending to look for their money and then have run off into the darkness.

"We have given advice to taxi drivers and we will seek to take positive action against offenders."