MAY 2009
PRIVATE HIRE AND TAXI MONTHLY 83
...STAKEOUT
CAMERAS GET GO-AHEAD IN EAST RENFREWSHIRE
Taxi drivers in East Renfrewshire could be the first in Scotland to install video cameras in their cabs to deter would-be troublemak- ers. The council’s licensing committee has given the green light for oper- ators and drivers of licensed taxis and pri- vate hire cars to fit their cars with recording systems. But they will have to agree the images recorded will only be available to police, the courts and the council for investigation of inci- dents and complaints. This follows the com- mittee’s decision at the end of last year to allow a trial go-ahead after Brian Kilpatrick, the council’s enforce- ment officer, was approached by East- wood Mearns Taxis driver Martin Dick who had seen the system
demonstrated. Mr Kilpatrick told the Glasgow
The Evening
Times: “Martin Dick was keen to go ahead as he felt the camera protected both him and passengers. “I approached the com- mittee who decided to carry out a trial period with two different sys- tems. “These were fitted in a number of licensed taxi and private hire cars, and passengers were asked to complete a brief survey, which showed overwhelming support for the idea.” Patrick Wilson, of Mearns Cars, also tried out
the system. He
said: “It’s reassuring for lone women passen- gers and those on the school contracts we do. “It will also act as a deterrent to any one who is thinking about starting trouble.”
SECURITY CALL AFTER DUNDEE CAB INCIDENT
chairman of
Dundee Taxi Associa- tion (DTA) has called for drivers in the city to take a look at their per- sonal security. His comments come after a woman taxi driver was left extremely shaken on a recent Saturday night when aman - who witnesses believed was carrying a weapon - attempted to force entry to her car. He approached the cab about
8.15pm on
Lochee Road. The car was sitting at traffic lights when the man advanced towards it with what’s believed to be a knife. He then tried to open the doors but luckily the driver man- aged to drive away. Graeme Stephen, DTA chairman, said drivers can employ some of their own security devices. He told the Dundee Evening Telegraph: “All of the drivers can fit
CCTV cameras in the car that films not only the front but also the sides of the car, so any- body doing anything like that can be caught. “Drivers have to pay for that
themselves,
though, and they cost around £500 to install.” He added, “The majori- ty of taxis now have locking systems where the driver can lock the doors from the inside, so if somebody tries to get in, they will not be able to. I would say all drivers should lock the doors once their pas- sengers are in.” Mr Stephen added, “Drivers are just doing their jobs and there are times when it is not an easy one. These peo- ple wouldn’t like it if we burst into their work demanding to get in. “I would also like to see courts acting more severely with these people.”
CCTV TO BEAT CRIME AND YOBS IN LIVERPOOL
Hackney cab drivers in Liverpool city centre are to have CCTV cam- eras fitted to combat crime and anti-social behaviour. The joint initiative by Merseyside police and Liverpool Chamber of Commerce
came
about after evidence showed that cab driv- ers were one of the most highly victimised occupations. The CCTV systems have as many as four cameras
capturing
images inside and out- side the cabs as well as recording on to hard disk. Cab drivers can also download images from the system for use as evidence. Dave McLeod, who is a drivers’ representative with the Unite union, said he was strongly in favour of taxi CCTV systems. He told the Liverpool
Echo: “In my view CCTV is worth its weight in gold. On one occasion I used my system to help the police locate a child kidnapped by his estranged father taken to London. “Another time a car ran into my cab and the driver was disputing responsibility until
I
showed them the CCTV footage and she held her hands up.” Peter Jones, head of the Chamber’s Busi- ness Crime Direct team, said: “Evalua- tion of the scheme has proved that all drivers felt safer with a CCTV system and 96 per cent of drivers thought their systems deterred crime and assaults. Detective Sergeant Frank Stott, of Merseyside Police Crime
Prevention,
said: “We support this initiative completely.”
SEE US ON STAND 64
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