How Uber is teaming up with the police

Uber is hoping its massive driver-network could provide "the eyes and the ears" that may help authorities solve missing persons cases. 

The ride-sharing giant has partnered with the Australian Federal Police in a new initiative which will see its community of 82,000 driver and delivery partners schooled in selected missing persons investigations. 

"We connect people online and we collect data that's of assistance to law enforcement particularly missing persons cases in the early stages where we might be looking for their location," head of Uber's Law Enforcement Operations Michael McTiernan told A Current Affair. 

Cases will be featured in newsletters to drivers and at activations inside Uber driver hubs. 

Season Uber driver Anoop Sharma says he's ready and willing to assist, saying "Uber can be a helping hand." 

But Chief Operating Officer of rival 13Cabs Stuart Overell told ACA it's a case of too little, too late from the ride-sharing company.

"The benefit of 13Cabs is you can see us on the street," he said. 

"People when they're lost or needing to be found can see our cars and we can work very easily and successfully with the government agencies to make that happen."

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