| Taxi Driver Online http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/ |
|
| ERYC to foot CCTV bill as passengers can activate audio http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=38093 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | StuartW [ Wed Mar 09, 2022 6:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | ERYC to foot CCTV bill as passengers can activate audio |
Don't like the sound of this at all. Audio should either be recorded all the time, or not at all. Think that either party activating audio during a trip would just inflame things, at least for some people (both drivers and passengers). Local taxis set to be fitted with CCTV and audio recordings of drivers and passengers https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hu ... tv-6772751 East Riding councillors have backed plans to fit CCTV and audio recording equipment in all 313 licensed taxis, with County Hall pledging to foot the £160,000 bill Local taxis picking up passengers in Hull and East Riding could soon be fitted with CCTV and audio recordings of passengers and drivers. East Riding Council's Licensing Committee backed proposals requiring all licensed taxi drivers to have CCTV and audio recording systems in their cars on Monday. Councillors heard the moves were designed to improve safety for drivers and passengers, help with criminal investigations and could save on insurance costs with feedback broadly welcoming the plans. Taxis licensed by East Riding pick up passengers across the region. It comes as councillors heard the East Riding had aimed to fit CCTV in all 313 licensed vehicles by December 2019 under a voluntary scheme launched in 2016. But 199 drivers did so, leaving around a third without CCTV equipment, with the scheme paused ahead of Government plans to review rules on it in 2020. The Licensing Committee backed making CCTV a requirement, with the council agreeing to foot the £160,000 cost of replacing and fitting new systems with audio recording. Council figures show CCTV footage from taxis has been used 53 times in investigations conducted by County Hall officials and Humberside Police. A report to the committee stated footage had lead to action being taken in assault cases, both from passengers and drivers. Footage has also been used in theft and burglary cases and to disprove false accusations made against drivers. Council figures show footage 18 times for vehicle accidents, 15 for allegations against drivers and six for assaults on drivers. Footage was used three times for incidents including soiling the inside of cars and 11 for incidents outside vehicles. Councillors heard the new systems would allow both drivers and passengers to turn audio recording on, with a light also coming on to alert people they are being recorded. Licensing officers told the committee it would allow customers to record conversations if they became uncomfortable and it may deter drivers from talking to them inappropriately. They added it would also mean that drivers could record conversations with customers if they needed to. The committee heard changes in the council's policy had taken concerns raised about both safety and privacy during consultations into account. Officers said that while there were no serious issues in the East Riding which needed to be addressed with new equipment, they could act as a deterrent. They added the equipment could also help save drivers money on insurance, by between 10 to 15 per cent in some cases, and help them with no fault claims. Drivers who currently have CCTV told the council they felt it deterred aggression and abuse from passengers and stopped them from running off without paying fares. Council officials also hope the scheme will encourage more new drivers to come into the taxi trade to help serve the East Riding's night time economy. The decision for the council to fund the scheme comes as the taxi trade continues to reel from the effects of coronavirus, with 57 drivers surrendering licenses in two years. Councillors who backed the plans, including Conservative Cllr Jacob Birch and Liberal Democrat Cllr Viv Padden, said that if drivers had nothing to hide they should have nothing to fear. |
|
| Author: | Sussex [ Wed Mar 09, 2022 7:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ERYC to foot CCTV bill as passengers can activate audio |
My experience of CCTV is that punters don't pay any attention to it. When it first went in I expected all the idiots to make a song and dance about it, but they take no notice. The voice panic button will never be used by punters, why would they need to when they all have smartphones nowadays? |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC [ DST ] |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|