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All of Southampton's taxis to be fitted with cameras
SECURITY cameras are to be made compulsory in cabs across Southampton in a bid to cut crime. The council wants “TaxiCams” fitted all new taxi and private hire cars while the 700 vehicles on the road that do not have them must be kitted out “as soon as possible”.
Southampton City Council is among the first in the country to bring in the controversial rules that are opposed by the trade. Drivers say it should be up to individual cabbies to decide whether to have the cameras and are now considering legal action after raising concerns over privacy issues and the cost, which will be capped at £250.
The council claims it has been proven that the 110 digital cameras already fitted to cabs have acted as a deterrent to “would-be troublemakers” and denies they are “Big Brother”.
Perry McMillan, chairman of the city’s taxi section of Unite, the union, said the decision had united the trade in opposition. “We feel very strongly about this. We are prepared to go to court on this issue,” he said.
Lee Haynes, boss of West Quay Cars, insisted the cameras would not be fitted to his fleet of 100 cars. “I can imagine my corporate clients being overjoyed with the knowledge that their highly sensitive business negotiations are being recorded,” he said.
Clive Johnson, chairman of Radio Taxis and the newly formed Southampton Trade Association, questioned the effectiveness of surveillance cameras and added parents were likely to object to their children being recorded.
Steve Paul, vice-chairman of the 120-member Southampton Hackney Association, said that while the cameras would improve safety, drivers should be given the choice about installing them. The cameras will take still pictures and record continuous audio once they are triggered by a door opening.
Taxi drivers will also be able to trigger a burst of snaps if they push a panic button. Around two weeks worth of footage will be stored on an encrypted hard drive in each taxi. Access will be restricted to council officials and the police.
Council officers claim the £600 cameras, which will be subsidised, will help solve crimes and improve safety. A council spokesman said: “The safety of taxi drivers in the city is of paramount importance.
“Drivers often suffer terrible verbal and physical abuse. We hope these measures will help to prevent these crimes. And, what’s more, we will now be armed with evidence to bring people to justice if they do occur.”
The move comes after a taxi driver in Southampton was accused of raping a student and popular cabbie Derek Fletcher, 52, of Sholing, Southampton, was left for dead after he was throttled and set alight in Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, two years ago.
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