CCTV in taxis moves step closer

2:05pm Wednesday 7th November 2007

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WORCESTER City Council is pressing ahead with a scheme to install CCTV cameras in taxis, despite the concerns of many drivers.

At the council's cabinet meeting, members agreed to proceed with plans to make fitting cameras a condition of licence, despite objections raised by Anne Murphy of Worcester Taxi Drivers' Association.

Ms Murphy said the move would customers an extra 10p each journey and accused the council of distracting attention away from issues affecting the trade, such as drivers being forced to replace vehicles sooner, the high number of taxis on the road and unlicensed vehicles using ranks.

"The idea that CCTV may be made a condition of licence is not acceptable to the trade," she told last night's meeting.

"Some are adamant they do not want CCTV cameras.

"The issue of them paying for this is very distressing for some drivers."

Following the meeting Ms Murphy said there were double the number of taxis needed on the city's streets, leaving drivers struggling to find work.

"The income I earn from driving a taxi is a third of what it was say five years ago," she added.

"If someone's determined to do you harm, they won't worry about a camera," she said.

Ms Murphy said customers would not be happy with the estimated 10p increase it will cost them per journey to pay for the cameras.

But Councillor Francis Lankester, cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, explained why CCTV was necessary.

"It's a sad reflection on, in some respects the way our country is going," he said.

"In Worcester we have not had a fatality, but we could have done when a taxi driver was stabbed.

"We recognise that by advising that this should be applied to all of the cabs that we are, in a sense taking away a measure of choice, but it's so important that all drivers and all passengers are safe."

He said many drivers had come to him and said they were concerned about their safety.

The council's chief executive David Wareing said the issues raised by Ms Murphy were not being ignored, but were complex and were being investigated.

The devices could be obtained on a lease basis through bulk ordering'.

The council could fund payments up front', increasing the Hackney tariff to recoup the cost and reimburse the authority.

The tamper-proof cameras would be fitted with a chip and the footage could only be viewed by the police.

Ultimately the council's licensing department will determine whether the scheme can be implemented.