Taxi Driver Online

A TAXI driver has claimed the council is 'breaching' the 'civil liberties' of cabbies across Warrington after ordering them to fit vehicles with CCTV.

Following consultation with drivers, the public and partner agencies the cameras are being installed to provide additional 'protection' to verbal abuse, assaults and malicious complaints.

The process started yesterday, Wednesday, but a Warrington taxi driver of around 15 years, who wishes to remain anonymous, believes the authority is going 'too far'.


He said: "Once the engines turn off the cameras will continue to run for 15 minutes but they said we can't view anything, only the council can see the footage, they are not allowing us to view it.

"If CCTV is filming then we have rights. I have no qualms about the CCTV while we are working.

"But if it is for safety reasons there is no reason why we can't turn it off once the engines are off – the 15 minutes after that are intrusive, that's why I believe it is a breach of our civil liberties."

Installation will cost around £400 per vehicle – but the council is confident it will help tackle crime and make the service safer for residents.

Peter Astley, assistant director for regulation and public protection, said: "The introduction of CCTV in licensed vehicles will help to make passengers feel safer and customers may wish to enquire about the availability of CCTV when making bookings.

"Experience in other areas has also shown drivers feel that CCTV helps to protect them from being subject to verbal abuse, malicious complaints, hate crimes or even serious assault.

"Taxis are licensed public transport so are not private vehicles even when they are being used while the driver is not working.

"All data is fully encrypted and is held securely by the system for a very limited period. It will only ever be accessed in the event of a serious incident."

Mr Astley also refuted suggestions the CCTV could be intrusive to those in the surrounding area after engines are switched off.


He added: "Although the camera remains on for 15 minutes after the engine switches off it is positioned to capture images inside the vehicle rather than outside."

Cameras will be installed when taxis have their six monthly or annual MOTs, alongside stickers alerting users of their presence.

The images captured will be protected using the encrypted software, which the council says will 'guard against any data loss or breaches'.

For further information about taxi licensing visit warrington.gov.uk

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

The drivers are having to pay £400 but surely this is an 'enforcement' issue and should be paid by the council as enforcement cannot be paid by the trade?

Well I'm not sure how it will stop verbal abuse,when you can't voice record? 400 quid someone's on a nice little earner, it should be free or a very small contribution, they should get some funding like a lot of other councils.

there is plenty out there under £400 and I firmly believe that councils shouldn't have control of it as that will lead to the same situation as street CCTV cameras and footage will only be available when it suits the council i.e. to protect the civil liberties of people committing crime against the drivers by stopping the evidence reaching police and courts unless it is a major incident such as a murder

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Does the council pay for taxi meters, and cabs?

£400 goes to £320 when tax is taken off?

Over three years £2 a week.

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IDFIMH

I can kind of understand where the chap is coming from re the 15 minutes period. For instance if you join the back of the rank and it is a slow day, you will turn your engine off. Your mate comes and sits in the cab and you are discussing your licensing officer, this could be being recorded and at some time viewed and listed to by the said licensing officer. Yes I know it is highly unlikely but it could happen.

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Grandad,

He's obviously got something to hide.

Files can only be viewed after there has been an incident by the CCTV control room, they were the only people authorised to get the data off the hard drive. Talking about the licensing officer is a day to day thing in the Taxi trade.

Why is he hiding his identity?



He's got something to hide.

Ours take it personally and will hold a grudge.

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Grandad,

that is not what I asked? I wasnt questioning the cost I was questioning as to whether the council can force a driver to pay for what would be regarded as enforcement

Simples - cover the lens over once your shift is finished - remember to take it off when back on.

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Common sense........is just not that Common.

If you don't like a condition that is attached to a license or think it is unlawful you can always challenge it through the courts.

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Grandad,

probably cost a lot of money so the trade would just roll over and accept

They can make it a condition of licencing i believe , therefore the answer has to be yes to can they force a driver to pay . However they have a duty to make sure any conditions must not

• exceed the council’s powers set out in the controlling legislation
• be unreasonable or disproportionate
• be beyond the applicant’s powers to comply with
• be for an ulterior motive and
• must be clearly stated in order that they can be properly understood to be complied with
and enforced.

It could be argued that the blanket compulsory installation of CCTV in taxis that is happening in many areas is without doubt a knee jerk reaction to recent events concerning the CSE issue . It could also be argued that many councils imposing this blanket policy are doing so in an attempt to convince themselves that it will solve everything , and that all criminality concerning drivers will cease .

CCTV has its place in taxis , and i would not be without mine . But to insist upon it as a licencing condition claiming that it will prevent further CSE and other crimes being committed by rogue drivers is an absolute nonsense . It is a definate deterrent against possible crimes being committed upon a driver , and without doubt very helpfull in protecting drivers against malicious allegations etc etc . However it would be naive to think that a driver intent on criminal activity would happily allow themselves to be filmed and allow that footage to be handed to the police . I would argue that they would simply disable the camera , destroy the footage , cover the lens etc etc rather than be caught out . So regarding the very serious issues that compulsory CCTV is supposed to protect the public from , i would say it is not fit for purpose . For protecting the driver it is more than fit for purpose .

To insist that drivers pay for compulsory CCTV is wrong , it should be on a voluntary basis only .

CCTV will not catch rogue drivers , only a more robust and vigorous licencing procedure that only allows drivers who can provide a criminal history check from a reliable source listing all crimes whether spent or not to be licenced .

Rant over