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What you NEED to know about CCTV plans for Somerset taxis
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Author:  StuartW [ Sat Apr 07, 2018 9:22 am ]
Post subject:  What you NEED to know about CCTV plans for Somerset taxis
7 things you NEED to know about plans to put CCTV in Somerset taxis

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/loc ... ow-1425046

(There's a video on the website with a council official apparently explaining why knowledge tests are required, but I couldn't get it to load.)

The next time you hail a taxi in a part of Somerset, you could be recorded on camera.

Mendip District Council is carrying out a review of its taxi licensing policy, including guidelines over installation and operation of CCTV in taxis and private hire vehicles.

Under the draft proposals, operators WILL be able to install CCTV in their cabs provided they meet the same standards as London vehicles.

Here’s what you need to know about the proposals:

1) How will you know if you’re being filmed?

Any taxi or private hire vehicle which has CCTV built in must inform potential passengers of this through signs inside the vehicle.

Jason Kirkwood, the council’s principal licensing officer, said: “All vehicles fitted with a CCTV system must display an appropriate sign in a prominent position.

“The driver may also verbally bring to attention of the passengers that CCTV equipment is in operation within the vehicle, if it is felt necessary or appropriate.”

Signs are not required if the CCTV system is used to record incidents outside of a vehicle, such as through the windscreen, but the driver must inform the party being recorded as soon as possible.

2) Will everything be recorded?

In the case of taxis, the equipment cannot just be switched on as soon as the meter is running, meaning not everything a passenger does will be recorded on video.

Explaining when the equipment would be used, Mr Kirkwood said: “The CCTV system may be configured to record images for a short period of time before the trigger event, during the related incident, and a short period following the related incident.

“A direct wired link to the vehicle’s taximeter, in the case of a taxi, will not be acceptable.”

3) How does the recording equipment work?

The video equipment can be activated by a number of methods, including door switches, a time delay, a “panic button” for drivers, or even a system which kicks in after sudden braking or acceleration.

4) Is audio recorded?

Drivers are not allowed by law to record audio of members of the public, including passengers, “except in very exceptional circumstances”, as it is considered “highly intrusive”.

An exception is made if the driver fears for the safety of themselves or their passengers, for example to accurately record actual threats to aid any subsequent police investigation.

The other exceptional circumstance occurs when a driver believes their own actions will be investigated by the police or council, for instance if a passenger makes a complaint, becomes abusive or is overly friendly.

5) How long is the footage allowed to be kept?

Drivers and operators are also subject to intense scrutiny as to how the CCTV footage is stored and for how long.

Video footage and audio must be stored either on a secure, encrypted hard drive, a detachable flash card or transferred in rail time to a secure server.

Images and audio must be deleted automatically after 28 days, and neither kind of data must ever be downloaded onto a portable device, such as a CD, DVD or USB memory stick.

6) What do drivers have to do?

Any taxi or private hire company can install CCTV systems to record activity inside its vehicles, but must first obtain written permission from the council.

Any system must meet guidelines laid out by Transport for London, which handles licensing and other transport matters in the capital.

To abide with data protection law, the company or individual in question must also register with the Information Commissioner’s Office as a data controller and pay an annual fee.

7) When will this start?

The proposals will be put to Mendip residents through a 12-week consultation, the dates of which have not been confirmed.

Following the consultation, the feedback and any amendments to the policy will be presented to the full council, with a view to the policy coming into force by September 30.
Author:  edders23 [ Sat Apr 07, 2018 11:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What you NEED to know about CCTV plans for Somerset taxi
Any system must meet guidelines laid out by Transport for London, which handles licensing and other transport matters in the capital.

what has TFL got to do with Somerset :roll:

transferred in rail time to a secure server.

so what have network rail to do with this :wink:

sure this isn't an April fools story
Author:  Sussex [ Sat Apr 07, 2018 7:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What you NEED to know about CCTV plans for Somerset taxi
Lazy LOs just following the lead of TfL.

The Home Office have quite adequate guidelines that can be adopted or adapted.
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