All Southampton’s taxis to
be fitted with CCTV cameras
CCTV cameras are to be made compulsory in cabs across
Southampton in a bid to cut crime. CCTV will be fitted to all new taxi
and private hire cars while the 700 vehicles on the road that do not have
them must be kitted out ASAP.
Southampton City Council is among the first in the country to bring in
the controversial rules that are opposed by some in the trade.
Drivers say it should be up to individual cabbies to decide whether to
have the cameras and are now considering legal action after raising
concerns over privacy issues and the cost, which will be capped at
£250.
The council claims it has been proven that the 110 digital cameras
already fitted to cabs have acted as a deterrent to “would-be assailants
and troublemakers” and denies they are ʻBig Brotherʼ.
Lee Haynes, boss of West Quay Cars, insisted the cameras would not
be fitted to his fleet of 100 cars. “I can imagine my corporate clients
being overjoyed with the knowledge that their highly sensitive business
negotiations are being recorded,” he said.
Clive Johnson, chairman of Radio Taxis and the newly formed
Southampton Trade Association, questioned the effectiveness of
surveillance cameras and added parents were likely to object to their
children being recorded.
Steve Paul, vice-chairman of the 120-member Southampton Hackney
Association, said that while the cameras would improve safety, drivers
should be given the choice about installing them. The cameras will take
still pictures and record continuous audio once they are triggered by a
door opening.
Taxi drivers will also be able to trigger a burst of snaps if they push a
panic button. Around two weeks worth of footage will be stored on an
encrypted hard drive in each taxi. Access will be restricted to council
officials and the police.
Council officers claim the £600 cameras, which WILL BE SUBSIDISED,
will help solve crimes and improve safety.A council spokesman said: “The
safety of taxi drivers in the city is of paramount importance. Drivers often
suffer terrible verbal and physical abuse. We hope these measures will
help to prevent these crimes. And, whatʼs more, we will now be armed with
evidence to bring people to justice if they do occur.”
The move comes after a taxi driver in Southampton was accused of
raping a student and popular cabbie Derek Fletcher, 52, of Sholing,
Southampton, was left for dead after he was throttled and set alight in
Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, two years ago
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