Comments:

Police hope to crack down on a range of crimes from abuse and criminal damage to assault, fare dodging and general drunken anti-social behaviour, with half the incidents involving violence.  They also included a number of false allegations against drivers involving failures to settle an agreed fare.

Installing CCTV gives passengers and drivers a peace of mind

The safety of the passengers is our highest priority, so the CCTV cameras mean added security - Bedford Borough Council.

Taxi drivers have made fresh calls for security cameras to be installed in all taxis in Rushmoor in a bid to curb the number of attacks on drivers.

With false insurance claims on the rise, it didn’t take me long to realise the benefits of CCTV

People see the screen and immediately reassess their intentions.  It takes only a few hours to install the system and provides me with added levels of security.

Incidents

Four males armed with kitchen knives threatened a taxi driver, and stole his mobile phone plus £130, when he was called to attend an address in Ballantyne Road, Farnborough, in the early hours of August 14 2008

A taxi company In Middlesbrough has taken steps towards security in there cabs, due to three attacks on its drivers in the past year, including one where a man was left unconscious.

Evidence

The data will only been seen by the police and the licencee, it is important people know we aren’t spying

Taxis with cameras will be clearly marked and the footage will only be used in relation to crimes.

Data Protection Legislation

All CCTV equipment must comply with current Data Protection Legislation.
Evidence of the equipments compliance must be provided

Appropriate information signage indicating CCTV is in operation in the vehicle, and compliant with current data protection guidance, must be permanently fixed to the vehicle in such position as to be visible to passenger before entry to a vehicle.  Any sign used must not obscure driver visibility and must comply with vehicle and road traffic laws.

Drivers Comments

We are providing a public service exactly the same as buses and trains.

They have cameras and I’m sure their drivers didn’t pay for them themselves.

We need councils help in order for us to continue the public service that we do.  We are sitting targets out there

It is impossible for every driver to have someone with them all the time, so the next best thing is to get a picture of the people who are causing the trouble.

It is not a big problem but when it does happen somebody’s life is in danger and one incident it too many.