Spy cameras go on trial in cabs

5:12pm Thursday 4th September 2008

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TAXIs in Basingstoke are to be fitted with CCTV after two thirds of cabbies threatened to quit working at night.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's licensing committee agreed to take part in an eight-week trial that will begin next week when the first taxi is fitted with a camera.

During the trial, the borough will act as "data controller", examining recordings of any incidents.

However, Terry Cooper, chairman of Basingstoke Hackney Carriage Federation, said taxis can use the system even if the council decides not to become the data controller.

Mr Cooper said cabbies were keen on the scheme as a deterrent to increasing violence against them.

He said two drivers had been assaulted, three robbed and two threatened at knifepoint, while more passengers have been running off without paying.

He told the committee his organisation had been trying for two years to get funding for the spy cameras. The taxi drivers will have to pay for the cost of installing cameras.

"The town at night has now become too dangerous to wait any longer," he said. "If we have to pay full price to go about our lawful business, so be it.

"Anecdotal evidence suggests that without some kind of safeguard, up to two-thirds of the taxi and private-hire drivers are on the brink of quitting the late service."

Mr Cooper said CCTV schemes elsewhere had been "successful in reducing and, in many cases, eliminating taxi-related crime".

Roger Southall, CabCCTV sales and marketing director, demonstrated the system to councillors and said the recording device was vandal-proof.

He said the system, costing £1-a-day per cab to rent, was covered by the data protection act and only the authorised data controller, which could be the council, police or Basingstoke Hackney Carriage Federation, could access the recordings.

After listening to the presentation, councillors agreed to the trial.

Councillor Diane Taylor said she would be reassured about her daughter's safety in a CCTV taxi and described the system as "excellent".

Cllr David Leeks said: "I'm all for this type of technology."

Licensing manager Linda Cannon explained the trial would assess how time-consuming it was for the council to act as data controller.

Mr Cooper told The Gazette: "Anyone thinking of making a nuisance of themselves in a cab from here on should think carefully because what they will be doing will be on film."