...or at least that's presumably what's alluded to with regard to 'other councils' not having compulsory CCTV, thus the cross-border effect
No mandatory CCTV cameras in South Derbyshire private hire vehicleshttps://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/l ... h-10090891Despite this, the council says that 'there appears to be public support for compulsory installation'A Derbyshire council is not going to make it mandatory for private hire vehicles to have CCTV cameras despite the support of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the public. South Derbyshire District Council carried out a public consultation on the issue late last year and found that of the 82 respondents – including residents and licensed drivers – 70 per cent (58) supported mandatory CCTV cameras in private hire vehicles.
Nicolle Ndiweni, Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner, also gave her backing for the compulsory policy, a council report details. The council concluded that “there appears to be public support for compulsory installation”.
A Derbyshire council is not going to make it mandatory for private hire vehicles to have CCTV cameras despite the support of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the public. South Derbyshire District Council carried out a public consultation on the issue late last year and found that of the 82 respondents – including residents and licensed drivers – 70 per cent (58) supported mandatory CCTV cameras in private hire vehicles.
Nicolle Ndiweni, Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner, also gave her backing for the compulsory policy, a council report details. The council concluded that “there appears to be public support for compulsory installation”.
The council says this “does not support the need for compulsory installation”. Between September 2023 and January 2025, the council received 21 complaints about licensed vehicles and out of those, 13 would have been assisted by CCTV.
The council says this “supports the argument for compulsory installation”. It concludes: “Officers have concluded that there is no strong evidence base to justify a mandatory requirement for CCTV in licensed vehicles at this time.
“Whilst officers have received several complaints over the years where CCTV would have been helpful in resolving the complaint and the consultation result was in favour of compulsory installation, this is not in itself considered to be strong enough justification. The cost implications of introducing a mandatory requirement for CCTV must also be considered.
“The cost to the trade would be in the region of £500 per vehicle. In today’s climate, it is not considered appropriate or necessary to add this cost to drivers. In addition, many licensed vehicles and drivers operating within the district are not licensed by the council but are licensed by other councils.
“These councils do not require mandatory CCTV in their vehicles, therefore making this mandatory for South Derbyshire vehicles will result in more drivers leaving to be licensed within other councils whilst still working in the district.” The authority says North East Derbyshire District Council is the only Derbyshire authority which has mandatory CCTV cameras in private hire vehicles, and does so “due to their proximity to Rotherham”.
South Derbyshire says it will review the current policy every year for councillors to reconsider based on the latest information. The authority says drivers will continue to be encouraged to install CCTV cameras voluntarily.
It says: “Officers recognise the positive impact that CCTV would have as an additional safeguarding tool which would provide confidence, added protection and reassurance to both drivers and the public, however a strong evidence base is required before this can be progressed. The principal consideration must be one of public safety.
“Public protection is paramount, and officers have concluded that there is not a pressing need for mandatory CCTV and the introduction of a mandatory requirement could be seen as excessively disproportionate at the present time.”
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