Taxi Driver Online

Colchester taxis to fit £600 CCTV

http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/1660 ... -600-cctv/

CAB drivers could be forced to shell out up to £600 to fit CCTV in their vehicles if plans are given the green light.

A six-week consultation is set to begin on the Colchester Council proposals, which would see all newly registered vehicles required to have the kit fitted.

Already-registered cars would be given time to have their vehicles brought up to standard.

Black cab and private hire firms have joined together to raise their concerns over the proposals.

There is broad agreement CCTV would protect both drivers and their customers but drivers are angry at the cost they would have to shoulder to fit the gear.

David Green, secretary of the Colchester Hackney Carriage Association, spoke at a meeting of Colchester Council’s licensing committee on Wednesday night.

Despite having less than a week’s notice to contact his members, he produced 82 points from association members, largely raising concerns over the cost of the equipment.

He said: “They just do not see how this cost - between £300 and £600 per car - should be down to the trade.

“Every time we come to change our vehicles, we have to get an appointment to get our meter removed and now this will be something else we have to get sorted.”

Christine Harvey, who works for private hire firm Panther Cabs, added: “Without doubt, drivers’ biggest issue is the cost and they do not understand why they are being asked to pay out so much money.

“A lot of our drivers actually have cameras fitted already and it cost them £30 from eBay and honestly they are probably better than ones that cost £200 or £300.

“There is no question CCTV is a good idea, it’s just the expense. There is a cheaper way to do it.”

The speakers also raised the issue of privacy as many drivers, especially in private hire, used their vehicles privately when not on duty, and also suggested some customers would prefer not to have conversations recorded.

Mr Green said: “Many times when a customer has got out of the taxi, they have turned to me and said: ‘Driver, you didn’t hear that conversation,’ and I understand that.”

Julie Young (Lab), who chaired the meeting, said the move is about “protecting drivers and customers”.

She said: “Even if this policy is recommended, there will be a public consultation so both drivers and the public will be able to give their views.”

The policy was recommended for approval.

Most interesting thing about this piece is the two photographs of the two-lane HC rank which seems to merge just before the front car, and which I'm sure doesn't cause any bickering at all

Did have the photos included in the article, but they were about twice the width of the normal window, so decided to dump them.

But also another good illustration of black not being a good colour for saloon HCs

Is £300-£600 too much to protect yourself?

Is £300-£600 too much to protect your livelihood?

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IDFIMH

No it is not too much to pay out ,but why pay that amount when you can get it
much cheaper .

I agree with that, but the problem is when councils get involved in setting the criteria costs spiral.

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IDFIMH

Not much to see here in terms of updates, but seems the council may be thinking of relaxing the specification for the CCTV.

Colchester CCTV in taxi cabs row could be resolved

http://www.eadt.co.uk/business/colchest ... -1-5706543

Controversial plans for CCTV cameras to be installed in all taxis and private hire vehicles operating in Colchester are out for consultation.

Proposals to install CCTV cameras in all taxi and private high vehicles operating in Colchester have been opposed by owners and drivers in the town.

The borough council plans have been opposed by many drivers and taxi operators over the high cost - but now a compromise may be on the way.

Taxi and limousine drivers are the most likely workers to die a violent death on the job, a CDC report has shown. Compared to other workers, they have an increased risk of such deaths because they work with cash, with the public, alone and during nighttime hours.

In order to help safeguard taxi drivers, as well as the public when disputes arise, Colchester Borough Council, the licensing authority, is planning to update its policies to include more rules.

One key element is introducing compulsory CCTV in all cabs next year. But the town’s drivers and owners are up in arms.

Clive Woolgar of Five Sevens Taxis in Colchester said: “The drivers are 100% against the council system. It is the main topic every day in the office.

“We are not against CCTV.I have it in my cab and my son has put his in two years ago. It does protect the driver, if he gets a complaint against him he can prove what happened.

“But drivers don’t want to spend nearly £600 on a council system with CBC in the car, which the driver has no access to.

“You can pick up a CCTV system for £70 and get it installed for another £30, that is £100.”

Colchester councillor Mike Lilley, whose responsibilities include planning, public safety and licensing, said: “We are out to consultation on these changes and getting feedback.

“CCTV is something all the drivers, Hackney cabs and private hire, agree it is a good idea.

“It does protect the driver, as well as the public. If there is a dispute, CCTV would allow us to investigate.

“There are occasions where passengers run off without paying, or drivers are abused, and it would provide evidence.”

Cllr Lilley added that the problem for the owners and the drivers is the cost of up to £500 for the system which was recommend to the authority.

“Some drivers already have CCTV,” he said. “We have listened to them. I think we will change the policy so we can allow the drivers and owners to buy the system that they want, so long as it does conform, and that it is a HD system we can use to prosecute.”

The current taxi licensing policy dates back to 2007. Other proposals include mandatory safeguarding training for all drivers.

And, for the environment, there is a new requirement for all drivers to switch off their engines when waiting in one of the borough’s air quality management areas.

Along the road in Ipswich, cab and taxi drivers are allowed to have CCTV, so long as it is a make approved by the council.

But there are no plans for a compulsory system.

The policy document can be downloaded via the consultation page on the council's website - it's 147 pages though

https://www.colchester.gov.uk/info/cbc- ... d=KA-02244

A good read for anoraks though. Haven't got that sort of attention span myself, but I note that they've got over 100 'offences' listed for the council's penalty points system

The good news though is that another version of the story on the Jumbo News website has a couple of nice wee pictures of my favourite two-lane rank - bet that's fun and games




Images: Jumbo News

Where would we be without two laned ranks.

And Jumbo News.

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IDFIMH

Nice bit of merging going on here, to be fair



Certainly a pity that all the news sites don't load as easily as Jumbo News

https://jumbonews.co.uk/2018/09/20/revi ... ince-2007/