Taxi Driver Online

Put cameras in our cabs before someone is killed

TAXI drivers in Worcester say they are working in fear of their safety and are demanding for CCTV cameras in their cabs before “someone gets killed”.

Worcester City Council was set to press ahead with the scheme two years ago but there was opposition about making cameras compulsory for all drivers.

A working party was set up to look at the issue but no further proposals have yet been put to the council. A number of taxi drivers raised their concerns at a Policing Matters meeting held at Unity House, Stanley Road.

Chief Inspector Jerry Reakes-Williams, head of local policing in south Worcestershire, faced questions from a number of drivers who said they feel “bullied” and “oppressed”.

The drivers identified two main incidents which have left them feeling unsafe.

In 1996 Worcester taxi driver Shazad Baig was set on fire by a customer after being squirted with petrol. He spent a week in the burns unit at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.

In September 2006 Mohammed Khan was repeatedly stabbed after taking a customer from St Swithin’s Street, Worcester to Tibberton, near Droitwich.

The father-of-five from St John’s was hospitalised for a week and needed 40 stitches to knife wounds in his hand, chest and lip. Neither case resulted in a successful court prosecution.

Tariq Hussain, of Battenhall, who has been working as a driver in the city for 10 years, said he feels the issue has been “brushed under the carpet”.

He said: “Nothing is being done about it. There was talk about it a while back but we haven’t heard anything for ages “Are you waiting for somebody to die before you do something? Or is it up to us to sort it out ourselves?”

Mr Reakes-Williams, said the decision was up to Worcester City Council.

He added: “I think having CCTV in taxis would be great but as everything it comes at a price, somebody has got to pay for it.

“It is up to the city council and the citizens of Worcester to decide whether or not they are going to pay for it.”

Mohammed Shaban, of East Street, Arboretum, has been driving taxis in Worcester since 1992.

He told the meeting: “The views of taxi drivers are not being considered and we are not happy about it.

“Something has to change. It is not fair that we should have to work in fear of our safety. CCTV in our taxis would act as a deterrant to assaults and will help the police with their investigations.”

Mike Harrison, chairman of the city council’s taxi forum, said the issue “is not on the agenda at the moment”.

Mr Harrison confirmed the council would not have the money to fund any future schemes and equipment would have to be paid for by charging extra for taxi licences.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

CCTV should be compulsory in all taxis IMO, even the still shot cameras would be good.

I agree Nigel, and I know of a union that has arranged a deal for a system which can be paid for over three years via guaranteed finance.

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IDFIMH