Editorial
Comment
The importance of CCTV in Taxis and taxi drivers (and in some cases passengers)? Doom Twin No1 adds; as soon I as climb on the
Private Hire cars
,QDFWXDOIDFWDVIDUDVZH·UHFRQFHUQHG&&79 box, my CCTV is activated; I would NOT operate
We had a conversation recently with the
should be a condition of licence and wholly or P\FDEZLWKRXWLW:K\"%HFDXVHWKHWD[LDQG
outgoing Edinburgh Cab Inspector about CCTV
partly subsidised by the Local Authority. We
private hire driver is in a very vulnerable and
in Taxis and Private Hire vehicles, and indeed
pay more than enough money to these regimes
dangerous position as soon as they sit behind
how important this type of technology is for
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the wheel of their car. Not only by those who
the safety of both the passenger and driver
time they got off their backsides and helped to
climb in and out of the back but, by and large, the
alike. Apparently, Edinburgh council are just
protect our livelihoods and give something back
public on the street and many other road (rage)
one of the many authorities in the UK who are
rather than… take, take, take. However, we do
users who are always ready to make a litigious
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still undecided on whether CCTV should be
acknowledge that there are some LAs out there
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installed in [their] licensed vehicles. There is an
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chasers. Not only will CCTV protect us from the
opinion, even from within the trade that CCTV
are or have an ongoing programme for CCTV
SXEOLFLWDFWXDOO\FXWVERWKZD\VZH·YHDOOUHDG
HTXLSPHQWLQWD[LVLVFRQWUDU\WRDQLQGLYLGXDO·V in taxis, and indeed do provide a subsidy. Take
and reported the story of the ex-London cabbie
right to privacy and could also contravene the Liverpool for example: Liverpool Chamber of
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Data Protection (1998) laws. Nevertheless, Commerce give at least half the amount payable
but thankfully rare), and this is just an example of
we are all aware that no matter where we for CCTV equipment in taxicabs, and we believe
why CCTV should be compulsory whether there
are in this country, surveillance equipment is 6KHIÀHOG3HWHUERURXJKDQG%ULVWRODOVRSURYLGH
is opposition from the public or within the trade.
PRQLWRULQJHYHU\PRYHZHPDNH¶ELJEURWKHU a subsidy. We now put it to those LAs who
If CCTV were made compulsory any would-be
LVZDWFKLQJ\RX·VRWRVSHDN6PDUWFDUVXS FRXOGQ·WJLYHDÀJ about the drivers who, after all
assailant or rapist would most certainly hesitate
telescope!) on the streets, on buses, in Police NHHSWKHPLQWKHLUFRPI\FRV\RIÀFHVWKDWLWLV
about undertaking an attack on another person,
YHKLFOHVLQRIÀFHVDQGWKDWLQFOXGHVPXQLFLSDO high time you followed the example of those LAs again whether they are the passenger or driver.
buildings, so if council employees are afforded who do care about their licensed Taxi and Private And it would also probably help to abate pirating
WKHSURWHFWLRQRI¶%LJ%URWKHU·ZK\QRWOLFHQVHG hire drivers and do something about it. NOW. and cherry picking.
3
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