Taxi CCTV pilot launched in Telford
Taxi CCTV pilot launched in Telford
A pilot to trial CCTV in taxis licensed by Telford & Wrekin Council is being introduced to see whether it makes drivers and passengers feel safer.
The aim of the pilot is to gauge whether fitting CCTV into vehicles deters crime and anti-social behaviour. For this trial, cameras will be fitted into 20 taxis licensed by the council.
Steven is a taxi driver operating in the borough and said: “I think the CCTV pilot is a very good idea and I am more than happy to take part. Having CCTV in my taxi makes me feel safer, particularly when working at night.”
Deputy leader for Telford & Wrekin Council and cabinet member for housing, enforcement and transport, Richard Overton (Labour) said:
“This is a voluntary scheme in partnership with West Mercia Police to gather feedback from drivers and passengers about whether CCTV helps them feel safer.
“We know that CCTV acts as a visible deterrent to crime. From the driver’s point of view, having CCTV in their vehicle may make them feel less vulnerable to attacks or fare dodging. In addition to the stringent checks our council licensing officers make, passengers may feel further reassured knowing there is CCTV.”
The cameras will not record sound except in an emergency to protect privacy. Footage will only be accessed if there is a complaint, or the driver or passenger makes a request to see it.
Signage will be displayed inside and outside the vehicle telling passengers the vehicle is fitted with CCTV and how to request a recording.
Unlike other areas, Telford & Wrekin Council will be responsible for the data rather than the driver, giving the public confidence their personal information is secure.
Funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner is being made available for the pilot.
West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion said: “I have a huge amount of respect for taxi drivers who play an important role in our society.
“I hope fitting CCTV in taxis helps deter crime and abusive behaviour and offers reassurance to both drivers and passengers. I look forward to seeing the results of the pilot.”
Hope it records the driver as well, so their id matches who is driving can be checked and catch all the ones driving while using their phones. The system should be both ways to protect the driver and the public using the taxis as the police and taxi owners seem incapable of dealing with all the complaints.
About time
Only apply to Taxis licensed by telford and Wrekin? most taxis get there license from Wolverhampton anyway in telford unless its made mandatory for all taxis operating in the area to have it otherwise i see this only protecting a few not everyone using taxis
Not before time
I’d still rather wait for a call or text from those dear to me so I can fetch them. CCTV is after the fact, not real-time.
Great! Aslong as the police or the council have the access to the CCTV and not the TAXI firm!!!
Oh well all I can is good luck. I was racially abused by a customer when I was driving. I had a dash cam and took the recoding to the police and was asked by 1 officer how I kept calm during the 20 min journey. They told me the guy (customer) faced prison for the abuse and threats he made to me and my family. Then was told he would be taken to the station to be TALKED to. In the end nothing happened because he had mental health issues. So it’s a Complete waste of time!!!
Brilliant idea
bout time but is it gonna stop certain drivers thou
They will conveniently loose film when they do something wrong still best to photograph driver and car and send to someone at home
Cant see any rapist drivers having cctv the crafty bsrstewards will get a loop hole thanks to the woke saying it is against their religion
This will only make a difference when ALL taxis driving in Telford and Wrekin are licensed in Telford and Wrekin. The application for a taxi license in Shropshire and Wolverhampton is far less stringent and these are the problem drivers.
Good however it would be great if it recorded to the firm to watch live, in the back at least. After knowing someone that got raped in a taxi this time last year, something needs to be done.
Protection for the drivers against the abusive, lying and robbing passengers. About time these knights of the road were made to feel safer.
Let’s hope it stops drivers watching tic tok videos whilst driving! Mind you the company nor the police care even with evidence
How about also sorting waiting times and rip off charges to go with this safety feature..that would be great
Might stop abuse and theft of goods. Not from the passengers!
Too little too late.
And what happens when it’s proves sone drivers are breaking the law ? Nothing I’m assuming and how do cameras only record sound if it’s an emergency also most of the taxis in telford are not licensed by telford and wrekin
cctv in your car if you wish, silent unless emergency – for who, the passenger… i wonder how many meetings this took to work out
The majority of taxis I’ve got in Telford have been registered in Wolverhampton or Shropshire. I think there should be some element of cross-council standardisation.
At last they’ll be able to film when they rape passengers now, be like fake taxi again.
I’d much rather the council checked licences carried by GoCarz and stopped letting them have the monopoly too.
Wish they would put cctv on them so they can see the way some of the drivers actually drive,
Can you confirm which taxi companies this will be available in. I thought most local drivers used wolves to get their licence not t&w?
they allready do this its called fake taxi
Why only sound when there are lots of reports of drivers assaulting passengers? This should work both ways not just in favour of drivers many of whom get their licences from Wolverhampton Council bc they can’t pass the test for one from TWC
Johns been doing this for years with great success!
Councillor Overton is well up on CCTV
problem is, this is only for taxis licensed by telford and wrekin………so not many then
Good for both drivers and passengers. The problem is that a lot of taxis/private hire in Telford come from Wolverhampton and Birmingham
I like thus idea but from a passenger perspective asi don’t feel safe with some taxi drivers
In my opinion,Only the police and council should have access to the footage.