CCTV: YOUR SECURITY
BARNSLEY HACKNEYS MANDATED TO INSTALL CCTV IN SAFETY PUSH FOR DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS
Barnsley MBC has approved a mandatory CCTV scheme for all licensed hackney
carriages, a
decision aimed at bolstering passenger and driver safety, particularly during late-night hours during high demand. The new policy which was agreed at a cabinet meeting on 5 March, will see cameras installed in all vehicles which must display prominent signage alerting passengers to the recording. The £173,500 scheme, funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, places the responsibility of maintaining and servicing the CCTV systems on
vehicle owners. The council will retain ownership of the footage and act as the data controller, ensuring privacy standards are met. “The installation of CCTV through this pilot scheme allows officers to support both drivers and the public to feel safe when working or travelling around the borough,” stated Cllr Wendy Cain, cabinet spokesperson for public health and Communities, highlighting a 10-week consultation period carried out to: ‘assess responses and views’ preceding the decision. Cllr James Higginbottom, cabinet member for transport and the environment, championed the
move, telling the meeting: “The introduction of mandatory CCTV in hackney carriages is a standard practice across the industry,
it
provides safety, security and peace of mind, both for passengers and more importantly for the taxi drivers themselves.” He added: “It also helps to improve the sense of safety right across the borough. People can feel con- fident getting in a taxi, that their safety and wellbeing will be protected throughout the journey.” The cameras will record footage inside the vehicle and will operate whenever the vehicle is in use for hire.
WOLVERHAMPTON TAXIS TO GET “PANIC SWITCHES” AND NEW CCTV RULES AFTER DRIVER KILLING
In a significant move to enhance taxi safety, Wolverhampton Council has approved a new policy allowing drivers to install “panic switches” for audio recording and has clarified CCTV regulations, following the death of private hire driver Anakh Singh. The council’s decision overturns a previous ban on continuous audio recording, allowing for momentary recording when drivers feel threatened. The council’s regulatory com- mittee, acting on overwhelming support from a 6-week consult- ation, approved the installation of “panic switches” that initiate audio recording when activated. This decision comes in the wake of Anakh Singh’s 2022 manslaughter over a disputed £5.80 fare. Tomasz Margol was jailed for ten years for
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the attack. The council stated: “Some councils have already given drivers permission to install ‘panic buttons’ which start recording if a driver feels in danger.” While CCTV is permitted in Wolverhampton taxis/PHVs, it’s not mandatory. The council clarified its CCTV policy at a regulatory committee meeting on 12 March: l ICO-compliant switch-controlled audio recording is permitted, provided switches illuminate and are accessible to all occupants
l passengers must not be visible on dashcam footage
l audio recording via dashcam is strictly prohibited
l dashcams cannot be considered to be CCTV, only approved CCTV systems are allowed to record anything internally.
The consultation revealed that 96% of respondents believed the “panic switch” system would improve driver protection, while 88% felt it would enhance passenger safety. Approximately 70% of drivers indicated they would install the equipment. The council’s previous concerns about audio recording being “highly intrusive to people’s data rights” were outweighed by the severity of attacks and a surge in reported taxi-related crimes - West Midlands Police recorded over 300 incidents in 2019. Wolverhampton joins Sheffield, Guildford, York, Cambridge, and Southampton in implementing taxi audio recording. Drivers must have the equipment professionally installed, or face licence review.
APRIL 2025 PHTM
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