Taxi Driver Online

Sheffield to make CCTV cameras in taxis mandatory


Taxi drivers in Sheffield will have to install CCTV cameras in their cars at a cost of about £500 each.

Sheffield City Council said cameras in taxis and private hire cabs would help reduce abuse and violent attacks.

Out of 2,224 taxis in Sheffield, the council said 128 currently have CCTV installed.

Hafeas Rehman, chairman of the Sheffield Taxi Trade Association (STTA), said cameras help drivers, but "shouldn't be mandatory".

"We're all adults. If anyone feels it will enhance their safety they should install one, but not have it actually forced on you just because people think it's a good idea," he said.

Chairman of the council's licensing committee, Councillor John Robson, said a mandatory policy was "definitely needed" and the results of a trial in 2007 were "overwhelmingly amazing":

"One in seven fares prior to the trial resulted in an incident - whether that was verbal abuse, threats of violence, physical assault, a dispute over the fare, people running off without paying or damage to the taxi.

"During the trial that figure reduced to less than one in 100. Surely the figures speak for themselves," he said.

A council report said systems that would meet their requirements for safety and recording duration start from around £500.

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-so ... e-21368629

report: http://meetings.sheffield.gov.uk/counci ... -committee

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I wonder how many drivers had that view before an attack or no fault RTA, but changed it afterwards?

_________________
IDFIMH

Legal test for Sheffield taxis CCTV plan


DRIVERS of black cabs could take Sheffield Council to court over a decision ordering them to fit CCTV cameras in their taxis.

Sheffield Council’s licensing committee has decided that all Hackney carriages should have cameras fitted at a cost of £500 per vehicle to ‘protect public safety’.

The committee, chaired by Labour councillor John Robson, said the cameras were needed to protect drivers from assaults and also ensure security of passengers.

But the decision has angered members of Sheffield Taxi Trade Association, which represents drivers.

Hafeas Rehman, the organisation’s chairman, said: “We believe the idea of compulsory CCTV cameras is a step too far and are looking into taking the council to court for a judicial review of its decision.

“Taxi drivers should be allowed to decide if they want to install cameras to protect them - but the other reason given by the council is insulting to drivers.

“There have been a very small number of incidents where passengers have been sexually assaulted but forcing us all to fit cameras makes it look like we are not to be trusted.

“The expense also comes after we have been refused permission to increase fares to cope with rising fuel and insurance costs.

“The CCTV system the council wants us to introduce is ridiculous. It would switch on the moment we turn the ignition and stay working for 45 minutes after we have finished driving.”

Sheffield Council said a further meeting would take place with drivers in May to discuss how to implement the new policy.

source: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/leg ... -1-5390234

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I actually it think it makes it look like the customers are not to be trusted.



That's typical

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Whats typical is serville shower of cretins driving cabs in the dump

_________________
All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

But it was predictable.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

As was TTs reply

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I would like cctv in my cab but,have'nt got the dosh. What Im really concerned about is will anybody (authorities) punish anybody,will they even go after a runner seeing that they have no manpower available?.CCTV everywhere does not seem to deter thieves, druggies, etc.

I was at the caravan show last week in Glasgow, on one of the stalls where loads of CCTV cameras, the most expensive was £250, the cheapest was only £50, and the best bit was I mentioned to the stall holder who just happened to come from Sheffield, what the council was proposing and he said he would look into it when he got back.
All the cameras where connected to there own screen so you could judge just how good they where

I disagree, and the study undertaken by your council in 2007 confirms they do work.

I do however have sympathy with the finance issue, which is why down here a local association got together with one of the big operators to fund the system at a rate of £10 a week. Interest free.

_________________
IDFIMH

The LA insists on encrypted systems where nobody can access it other than the authorities which I think cost a packet.
The cab driver who I talked to who had cctv fitted did'nt seem to get any joy from the police when he did have trouble,this is why I want it but, am dubious the authorities will act upon what they see and hear.Plus because our LA let a load of drivers thru on a pathetically easy test then a lot of our drivers really don't know where they are going which does lead to trouble.

The system many use down here is a fully encrypted two camera hard drive system, which cost £350 fitted.

_________________
IDFIMH

biggest argument here about them is who pays for the £35 ICO license.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Hopefully the mush that fits the system.

_________________
IDFIMH