Taxi Driver Online

Got this e-mail and if anyone wishes to contact Luke at the BBC please feel free.

Alex

Hi

I'm contacting you from You & yours on BBC Radio 4. We're interested in
discussing the issues around CCTV in taxis.

I know there's been a lot of controversy in Southampton, where taxi
drivers have taken the council to court over a clause in the local taxi
licence which means all taxis have to have CCTV active 24 hours a day, 7
days a week.

Is there anybody at Taxi Driver Online who knows about this issue and
could spare a few minutes for a chat? If you send me a number I'll give
you a call, alternatively I'm on 0207 765 4919.

We're planning to look at this issue on Friday 4th November, so I'd be
very grateful if you could get back to me as soon as convenient.

Thanks for your time & I look forward to hearing from you

Luke Mulhall

Luke Mulhall
Assistant Producer, BBC Radio 4

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Simply the best taxi forum in the whole wide world. www.taxi-driver.co.uk

I think the issue can be broken down to a small number of issues.

1. The cost of mandatory CCTV can be prohibitive, depending on the criteria laid down by the local council.
2. Some drivers don't like the idea of all their private (non working) mileage being recorded.
3. The cost of being dead is a price most of us don't want to think about (I think it's 58 killed UK taxi/PH drivers in the last 15 years).
4. The cost of drivers keeping their licenses by using CCTV pictures to re-butt customers making false accusations is, some may say, priceless.
5. The deterrent effect of CCTV is almost impossible to quantify, although from memory the Sheffield data said attacks post CCTV in cabs were a fraction of those pre CCTV.
6. Will drivers do things they shouldn't if they know what they are doing is being recorded? And will that give customers, particularly lone females, a bit more protection?

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