Taxi Driver Online

Daily Star

August 6, 2007 Monday

Camera scheme for hacked off cabbies

TERRIFIED cabbies want CCTV cameras in their taxis in a bid to reduce violent attacks.

The Scottish Taxi Federation said that CCTV equipment could help deal with incidents of violence, which are on the rise.

Plans to install cameras in Dundee taxis have already received backing by the city council and Tayside Police. Images from equipment, which can cost GBP 600, will only be accessed by cops.

Drivers' spokesman Bill McIntosh said: "I'm convinced these kind of incidents are on the rise.

"We support the idea of installing CCTV in taxis and we know a lot of our members would like to have them in their cars.

"The problem is trying to find someone to fund the cameras and take responsibility for the images.

"Until now we haven't collected statistics on the number of drivers subjected to violence from their passengers, but I think that will have to change."

Graeme Stephen, chairman of Dundee Taxi Association, said funding for the CCTV system was still to be resolved.

He said: "We're now waiting to see what funding we may be able to get as the cost of installing the equipment is very expensive."

A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) said if the Tayside pilot was successful, the scheme could be rolled out nationwide.

He said: "The information would be dealt with by Tayside Police who would collect it and form a report for the ACPOS business committee.

"It would then go to the ACPOS council which would decide whether to endorse the process."
_______________

10p on the flag should sort it.

_________________
IDFIMH