Taxi Driver Online

when you up tech to counter criminal criminal simply up an become worse to counter measure you

Oxford set to scrap plan to put CCTV in taxis

OXFORD’S licensing bosses are set to shelve plans to install CCTV in cabs, admitting it would be against the law.

Following a ruling against a similar scheme proposed in Southampton, Oxford City Council is proposing to agree not to implement the plans “at the current time” or carry out any further consultation.

In a report, put to the committee tomorrow, officers state that “until such time as the law in this area changes or public safety issues significantly worsen, it is likely Oxford’s scheme would be found to be similarly unlawful if implemented”.

In 2011 the council announced it was hoping to make audio-visual recording compulsory in the 681 licensed taxis and private hire vehicles by 2015.

While this was supported by many drivers and the City of Oxford Taxi Cab Association (Colta) it was met with a barrage of criticism, including from privacy campaigners.

The council put the scheme on hold last May for more consultation and now a ruling by a national tribunal for similar proposals in Southampton looks to have scuppered the plans.

City councillor Colin Cook, the executive board member for city development and chairman of the general purposes licensing committee, said: “This was a request which came from the drivers themselves that they should have the extra security which audio-visual recording would bring.”

When asked whether the policy was now dead, Mr Cook said it would depend on a Law Commission ruling following a national review of taxi licensing.

But the commission issued an interim statement last month which the council accepts contains nothing which supports or relates to audio-visual recording.

Richard Barlow, a Oxford-based private hire driver from Kidlington, said: “I am disappointed as it would benefit the safety of the passengers and the drivers.”

But cabbie Saj Malik, a city councillor for Cowley Marsh, said: “I think common sense has prevailed but the city council learnt the hard way.”

Nick Pickles, the director of civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: “I’m delighted this Orwellian policy has been defeated and passengers’ privacy will be respected.”

A report prepared by city council officers says: “Despite safeguards similar to those in the Oxford scheme, the tribunal found the audio recording element of Southampton’s scheme to be an unjustified and disproportionate interference with drivers’ and passengers’ privacy.”

source: http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/104315 ... _in_taxis/

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

Complete and utter disinformation - CCTV with audio is on a loop - its only downloaded when needed for evidence.

Perhaps Mr Pickles can explain to my daughters friend who was assaulted by 3 girls last weekend - suffering cuts - black eyes and a broken nose - that she is better off now the CCTV is switched off?

Perhaps he can explain that even though she named the 3 female attackers - the police still cannot press charges due to lack of witnesses - that CCTV wouldn't have helped?

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

It is amazing as to how they can and do use "Circumstantial" evidence in high profile cases i.e murder - but not assault!

_________________
if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

It's only unlawful if the council insist on audio.

Leave it to the Data Controller to decide, and if they say it should have audio due to the circumstances at hand, then audio is 100% legal.

_________________
IDFIMH

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/104338 ... _in_taxis/

Officials say no to CCTV in taxis

10:30am Wednesday 22nd May 2013 in News

OXFORD: The use of CCTV equipment in taxis has been ruled out after a key vote at Oxford Town Hall.

The city council’s general purpose licensing committee last night voted to scrap plans to install cameras and sound recording equipment in the city’s cabs.

The plans had been widely opposed by drivers.

even if it had gone through, just how would they have implemented it in the "out of town hackney" brigade?

They wouldn't, but that applies to just about everything.

_________________
IDFIMH

They don't legislate for them - Oxford Council are gutless IMO

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

Following in from this, oxford city council are also trying to implement an 8 year replacement policy for oxford city council licensed vehicles, how ever this also won't apply to the " out of town brigade ".

Unless of course one national standard for PH comes in.

Some of the barons realise what this means for them. Basically some northern guys could just drop 300 PH on one city, or they'll buy each other out, like its been said before on here, it's dog eat dog.

Indeed, but just because your council can't control the world doesn't mean they shouldn't attempt to control/improve Oxford.

_________________
IDFIMH

Could a condition be attached to the PH Operators license requiring CCTV in vehicles operating under the umbrella of the license?

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

No IMO.

But a condition could be added to council contracts that CCTV must be installed in all contracted vehicles.

_________________
IDFIMH