CCTV: YOUR SECURITY
SOUTH STAFFS TO INTRODUCE PANIC SWITCH AUDIO RECORDING FOR ENHANCED SAFETY IN TAXIS
Taxi drivers and passengers in South Staffs will soon have the option to activate audio recording during journeys via a new “panic switch”
system. This move by
South Staffs Council’s licensing committee aims to bolster safety following a worrying spate of assaults on cabbies in the region. The decision to
permit the
installation of CCTV systems with optional audio recording comes after an extensive consultation last
year, which garnered significant support for the measure. An overwhelming 88% of the 1,329 respondents believed audio record- ing would enhance
passenger
safety, while 96% felt it would better protect drivers. A council report underscored the escalating safety concerns, referencing “several high-profile assaults on licensed drivers.” The report stated that: “Given the risk to the council’s drivers, the
position on audio recording and its crime deterrent benefits has been reviewed, to provide greater protection to drivers.” While not mandatory, the new policy will allow drivers to install the audio equipment if they choose. Crucially, a “panic switch” will be fitted inside the taxis, which is mutally accessible enabling either the driver or the passenger to initiate audio recording when necessary.
MANDATORY TAXI CCTV IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: SAFETY v BURDEN ON DRIVERS
A push by Reform UK to mandate CCTV in all Nottinghamshire taxis has sparked a debate, with concerns rising that the move could place an undue “burden on drivers” and exacerbate an existing loophole allowing drivers to register outside the county. Reform UK, now in charge of Nottinghamshire County Council, called for mandatory CCTV in a letter to the city council and all seven district and borough councils, citing the Baroness Casey report on CSE and grooming gangs, which highlighted issues with taxi licensing. Cllr Rory Green, cabinet member for children and families, stated in a letter: “Currently, no local authority in Nottinghamshire requires CCTV in taxis - an absence of protective infrastructure that leaves children, vulnerable adults, and taxi drivers themselves without critical safeguards.” He further emphasised the need
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to learn from “serious failures identified in Professor Alexis Jay’s inquiry into Rotherham Council,” where lax licensing contributed to widespread child exploitation. However, the proposed cost of installation per cab has raised fears among most Notts councils. A collective response from authorities, including Nottingham City Council and Mansfield DC, warned that without closing the loophole allowing drivers to register elsewhere, such a local mandate “risks incentivising drivers to register with other councils that do not impose the same standards, undermining both the effectiveness of the policy and the ability of councils to
regulate
vehicles operating in their area.” They also highlighted “concerns around the financial and administrative burden on drivers, particularly in relation to data protection responsibilities.” Currently, around 700 Nottingham
city residents are licensed with Wolverhampton, illustrating the scale of the cross-border licensing issue. Cllr Green acknowledged this challenge, stating: “I’m not naïve to the fact that some drivers would jump ship to circumvent the rules, so we also need to work on closing those loopholes.” Despite the councils’ concerns, former taxi driver and new Reform UK Councillor Joseph Rich, who signed the letter, believes the cost is a worthwhile investment for safety. “It’s a big protection for the taxi drivers themselves and for those who use them,” he said. “Most cabbies recognise that they would have to pay a few hundred pounds for this improvement to keep people safe.” While most councils advocate for a national approach to mandatory CCTV, some, like Newark and Sherwood DC, remain open to discussion on implementing measures to increase public confidence.
JULY 2025 PHTM
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