Taxi Driver Online

Questions asked as CCTV in cabs move was not enforced

A councillor has vowed to investigate after a decision to ensure CCTV was installed in Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles was not carried out.

Now Councillor Peter Hiller says he will be quizzing officers to ensure the correct procedures were followed.

His comments come as Peterborough city councillors prepare to overturn a decision made five years ago that it should be compulsory that CCTV should be installed in all Hackney carriages and Private Hire Vehicles.

The decison was agreed in March 2009 by the licensing committee, of which Cllr Hiller was a member.

Councillors were concerned at the number of attacks on drivers.

But a report to go before the council licensing committee today recommends the decision be dropped.

It states for the decision in 2009 to be implemented, formal notice had to be given to drivers but this did not happen.

Cllr Hiller, cabinet member for planning and housing, said: “I will be asking questions about why our recommendations were not acted upon at the time.

“I don’t doubt the professionalism of our officers but I would like to know the reasons why the decision was not followed through?”

The new report states other councils have tried to force taxi drivers to install CCTV but have been successfully challenged by the Information Comissioners Office.

The report says the cost of installing CCTV would be too high.

“There has been a dramatic downturn in the economy. Trade members are not in a position to provide the financial outlays required to install CCTV.”

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news ... -1-6306070

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

Peterborough cabbies protest over security fears after attack


Hackney taxi drivers protest meeting in Westgate near the Bus Station

Dozens of taxi drivers brought a city centre street to a standstill in protest over security following a brutal attack.

Cabbie Nasar Khan (35) of Millfield, Peterborough was seriously injured following a city centre assault on Friday, September 5.

Mr Khan was so badly hurt, he is now considering quitting his job, which he has held for more than 10 years.

On Monday more than 50 Hackney Carriage drivers held a sit in protest at 1pm in Westgate, Peterborough.

Imran Khan, brother of Nasar, said their pleas for extra security had fallen on ‘deaf ears, and the only option was for them to strike.

He said: “Taxi drivers have been left traumatised after the attack on my brother on Friday September 5.

“The outcome was the head of police did attend and the council was forced to send their top team to meet with the black cab drivers to hear what they had to say.

“The attack on my brother left him hospitalised for over five days and him not been able to leave the house.

“He has sustained a head and eye injury and has less movement in his right arm.

“He feels his taxi career has come to and abrupt end and left him to ponder about his future.”

Mr Khan said they were hoping to meet with police and council officers again in the future to discuss what can be done to increase safety for black cab drivers - including a request for police patrols on taxi ranks.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire police said no-one had been arrested as a result of the attack, but investigations were still ongoing.

They said they attended the protest meeting by taxi drivers to keep the peace.

A spokesman for Peterborough City Council said: “We have met with Hackney Carriage drivers and private hire cab drivers over the past few days.

“We have arranged to meet with them again in the near future to discuss the issues.”

The assault is alleged to have happened following an argument Mr Khan had with a cyclist on the evening of September 5. He said later in the evening two people attacked him. Anyone with information about the assault on Mr Khan is asked to call police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news ... -1-6301669

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

I guess CCTV is out of the question, unless it's free of course

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Or a driver is killed.

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IDFIMH