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December 24, 2007 Monday
CCTV cameras for city taxis
Gerran Grimshaw
TAXI bosses have given the thumbs up to a council proposal for CCTV security cameras to be installed in York's private hire vehicles and hackney carriages.
City of York Council will consider changing its policy, laying out guidelines on installing the cameras, at the next licensing committee meeting on January 4.
No policy exists on CCTV at present, but several private hire and hackney carriage drivers have approached the council about the issue.
Stuart Robinson, vice-chairman of York Taxi Association, said: "In general, most people in York behave, so there isn't the need that's manifest in some cities of a similar size. But some drivers are choosing to install them for their own protection."
He said the systems had a twofold role. "If a passenger misbehaves, they can be specified and identified," he said. "But it also protects drivers against false statements made by passengers about their behaviour.
The policy would approve the use of CCTV - but on a voluntary basis, with all costs borne by drivers.
Taxi driver Mark Ebdon, who was threatened by passengers, has backed the scheme, but says the council should provide some financial support. The Ace Private Hire driver had a run-in with passengers who spilled takeaway food in his car then threatened to stab him after he had driven them to Tesco, at Clifton Moor.
He said: "It wouldn't necessarily stop incidents, but it would be useful for gaining evidence against people committing crimes," he said.
He said the council should consider helping toward the cost of the systems, which could be expensive.
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