Taxi Driver Online

Echo

June 13, 2007 Wednesday

Attack worries prompt CCTV in cab

BASILDON Council has agreed to treble the number of CCTV cameras for taxis following a spate of attacks on cabbies.

The council originally planned to subsidise installation of cameras in 20 taxis, but has now secured funding for 64.

The first two vehicles to have CCTV installed were unveiled this week.

The cameras will take snapshots of passengers as they climb in and out of taxis.

Drivers will also have a panic button, which they can press to record further images if they come under attack.

Ralph Sutton, who has been a Basildon taxi driver for 20 years, said: "It's brilliant news.

"Hopefully it will act as a deterrent as much as anything else, as people will know they will get caught on camera if they cut up rough.

"I've ordered mine and am just waiting for it to be fitted. We needed CCTV because it is getting more and more dangerous to work in Basildon at night.

"Drivers are being attacked all the time and someone will be killed if we're not careful."

The council received a £14,000 grant from the Basildon Crime and Disorder Reduction Part-nership, the Local Taxi Partnership and Essex County Council.

It is thought drivers will receive a £200 subsidy towards the £500 cost of installing CCTV. Councillor Frank Tomlin, chairman of the taxi licensing committee, said: "We hope the cameras will help to improve the safety of cabbies and provide reassurance to their passengers. The cameras will be used to capture evidence of any crimes committed in both private hire and hackney carriage cabs.

"There is now every chance that someone getting into a taxi in Basildon will be under CCTV surveillance should they commit a crime. This should come as a warning to any thugs that they face being caught and prosecuted."
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