Police warn Jersey teenagers about Facebook lifts page

Jersey teenagers are breaking the law and putting themselves at risk by charging for lifts to strangers, the States of Jersey Police has said.

The comments come after a page was set up on social networking site Facebook, where anyone can post their numbers and ask for a lift home.

Acting Ch Insp Mary Le Hegerat said it was dangerous and the drivers were breaking the law by accepting money.

The Jersey Lifts page has 996 members so far.

Those who had joined the group on the page complained that taxis were too expensive and there were no late buses.

Acting Ch Insp Le Hegerat said: "We would encourage people that know each other... and if they are having a night out and one decides to drive and the others have a lift home with them I think that's a very good idea.

"But we would discourage somebody from picking a number up off a Facebook page, somebody they don't know and then paying that person a fee to get home."

But 18-year-old Roobey Lock said it was a good way to get home.

"I know a lot of people that give lifts are friends with each other," she said.

She added: "It is not always easy to get through to taxis and the prices are just way too expensive for people who have just left school and don't have a full time job."