Taxi Driver Online

This is a bit different in that it's targetted at a specific group within the trade (or within the PH side at least), because of budgetary constraints (and in that it's being funded by the council).

Or at least that's the plan, anyway.

Apart from that it's the usual arguments, so no point going back there again

Wonder what would happen of the car stops doing school runs


Private hire vehicles could get CCTV cameras

https://www.barnsleychronicle.com/artic ... tv-cameras

NEW proposals have been put forward by Barnsley Council to place CCTV in a number of private hire vehicles following the successful roll-out of cameras in Hackney carriages across the town.

Last April, cabinet approved £173,500 in funding from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) under the Transport Innovation Fund to pilot the introduction of CCTV in Hackney carriages.

This initiative aims to enhance both passenger and driver safety by deterring criminal activity and supporting drivers in managing challenging behaviour.

It also looks to encourage more drivers to work during late and unsociable hours, increasing the availability of taxis in the town centre during busy weekend periods.

A consultation was undertaken with Hackney carriage drivers and, despite a third of respondents stating they did not want the cameras inside their vehicles, the scheme was passed earlier this year.

The pilot scheme was initially rolled out last month and a further review is set to be carried out later this year to determine the effectiveness of the project.

However, there are still funds available from the scheme and so the council has subsequently put forward proposals to put CCTV in private hire vehicles that current hold a home-to-school transport contract with the local authority.

A report states: “There are sufficient funds remaining from the pilot scheme to now offer the installation of CCTV to our private hire vehicle owners that hold a home-to-school transport contract with the local authority.

“This group of drivers experience similar concerns regarding dealing with challenging behaviours from some passengers in their vehicles.

“CCTV in these vehicles will also enhance safeguarding protocols and contribute to enhancing protection for passengers and drivers.

“The main aim of the CCTV is to increase both driver and passenger safety and encourage more drivers to work at unsociable times.

“It also supports drivers to not avoid the more difficult customers.”

Public consultation on the new plans is set to start a week today and will run until October 17.

The report added: “It is recognised that the hackney carriage and private hire trades provide a valuable public service, especially late at night, when other forms of public transport are not always available.

“Security for both drivers and passengers is a high priority.

“CCTV cameras can be a valuable deterrent to criminal activity as well as protecting the driver from unjustified complaints.

“For the purpose of this policy, CCTV relates to recording inside of the vehicle only.

“The DfT is currently asking all licensing authorities to identify if there are local circumstances which indicate that the installation of CCTV in vehicles would have either a positive or an adverse net effect on the safety of taxi and private hire vehicle users.”

Councillors will discuss the proposals at a meeting on Wednesday.

I suppose the council should be applauded for funding CCTV for that select section of our trade.

As long as the CCTV is only for vehicles licensed by Barnsley Council.

_________________
IDFIMH

Taxi CCTV consultation period ends

https://www.barnsleychronicle.com/artic ... eriod-ends

A CONSULTATION on proposals to place CCTV in a number of private hire vehicles following the successful roll-out of cameras in Hackney carriages across the town has concluded.

Last April, cabinet approved £173,500 in funding from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) under the Transport Innovation Fund to pilot the introduction of CCTV in Hackney carriages.

This initiative aims to enhance both passenger and driver safety by deterring criminal activity and supporting drivers in managing challenging behaviour.

It also looks to encourage more drivers to work during late and unsociable hours, increasing the availability of taxis in the town centre during busy weekend periods.

A consultation was undertaken with Hackney carriage drivers and, despite a third of respondents stating they did not want the cameras inside their vehicles, the scheme was passed earlier this year.

The pilot scheme was initially rolled out last month and a further review is set to be carried out later this year to determine the effectiveness of the project.

However, there are still funds available from the scheme and so the council has subsequently put forward proposals to put CCTV in private hire vehicles that current hold a home-to-school transport contract with the local authority.

A six-week consultation period officially ended last week and the results have found that most drivers who responded would be in favour.

A report said: “In order to share the proposed changes to the policy, the private hire vehicle conditions and the dual driver conditions and capture the views of all interested parties, a public consultation was carried out in relation to CCTV in Barnsley Council private hire vehicles on home to school transport contacts.

“The consultation ran for six weeks.

“Ten responses were received to the consultation.

“Six respondents are in favour of the scheme, three were against - raising issues and concerns in relation to the quality of the first installations that were completed earlier this year in our Hackney carriage vehicles.

“One respondent asked a list of questions and when the responses were provided, they verbally confirmed that they were fully supportive of the scheme.”

The scheme is set to be recommended to cabinet for approval.