SECURITY STAKEOUT
CALL FOR EXETER CABBIES TO PUT CCTV IN CABS
Police are encourag- ing cabbies across Exeter to consider installing CCTV in their vehicles in a bid to end the growing number of attacks on drivers. One firm, Alpha Taxis, has already started to install cameras - and other firms have backed the call for CCTV in vehicles. Exeter City Council is also supporting the move after revealing that assaults are increasing. Last month seven attacks against drivers in the city were reported to police in the space of just three weeks.
Among the incidents was a horrific attack which left a driver with serious head injuries. Sergeant Beverley Weston, of Exeter
police, said recent events had left some drivers fearful. She told the Express and Echo: “We’re look- ing at ways we can improve things and one option I’m looking at is cameras. There is a procedure that needs to be followed for footage to be used in court so it’s important taxi firms do it right in terms of correct signage to ensure the integrity of the evidence.”
Darren Pike has owned Alpha Taxis for 11 years. He said he decided to install the cameras to boost security for drivers and for the reassur- ance of passengers. The first camera was being installed last month and the firm is considering installing
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others across the fleet. Mr Pike, 41, told the Express and Echo: “It’s a win-win situa- tion, everyone is covered. CCTV would be especially helpful for liaising with the police.”
Mr Pike said stickers in the vehicle will advise passengers that a camera is operating. An Exeter City Council spokesman said: “The council’s policies allows for the installa- tion of cameras to ensure as far as possi- ble that drivers have some means of identi- fying assailants if the need arises.” Taxi firms interested in working with the police in the installation of cameras can call Ser- geant Beverley Weston on 01392 451585.
CCTV IDEA FOR SOUTHEND’S TAXIS TO IMPROVE SAFETY
Cabbies could soon have CCTV cameras fitted in their cars. Southend Taxi Drivers’ Association is in talks with an advertising company which has offered to provide the equipment free of charge.
Cars would have small on-board computers worth £1,000, with DVD screens running the company’s adverts. Dave Clift, secretary of the association, told the Southend Evening Echo: “I’ve had a cam- era in my car for years. I haven’t put it in there to stop anyone attack- ing me, I’ve put it in there because if there’s a young girl travelling at night in my cab it shows her I couldn’t do anything because I’m on cam-
era.” Taxi drivers will also be put through first aid courses because they are often first on the scene of an accident. The idea is they will be able to provide life- saving treatment in the vital minutes before a paramedic arrives. Mr Clift said: “Normal- ly if there’s a road accident the first per- son on the scene is the taxi driver and we don’t know what to do.”
An accident which happened earlier in the year spurred the cab drivers to look at first aid courses. Hun- dreds will now pay a fee to take a course with Truman and Hall Safety Training, at Temple Farm Industrial Estate.
Carl Robinson, South- end Council’s group manager for regulato- ry services, said: “The council understands that the company which is offering to install the cameras also proposes to install illuminated screen advertising in cabs.
“However, this would require a change to the current licensing conditions.
“But we would wel- come the introduction of CCTV cameras in licensed cabs, as they would enhance the safety of both drivers and passengers. “We also very much welcome the decision of the town’s licensed cab drivers to undergo first responder-type first aid training.”
POLICE TRAINING WILL HELP PROTECT ROTHERHAM TAXI DRIVERS
Police are training taxi drivers in reading body language to help them stay safer while working.
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Officers will pass on their own skills and techniques to help cab- bies avoid trouble, following several recent attacks in Rotherham. The link-up has been welcomed by drivers in the Rotherham Private Hire Drivers’ Associa- tion, set up two years ago to help protect its often vulnerable and isolated workforce. Chairman Haroon Rashid told the Rother- ham Advertiser: “Learn- ing about body lan- guage is an excellent idea, and I’m really glad that it’s being worked on.
“I’ve been through this kind of training before and there are tell-tale signs. You can pick up some from experience on the job, but it’s much better having
this training.” He added: “We are liaising with a firm which does CCTV and protective shields for cars, and we are also looking to join up with the police to have stickers produced to go in the cars, telling people that we do work in partnership.” Andrew Lewis, 21, from Greasbrough, was jailed for three years after admitting robbing taxi driver Mohammed Yaqub. Accomplice Craig Smith, 27, was given a community order for assisting him during the incident in March.
Mr Rashid said. “All the credit goes to the police, both in arrest- ing these people and keeping myself and the drivers involved informed about what was happening. “The association was formed to improve the working conditions of
taxi drivers, especially in the area of safety, and to look to elimi- nate any prejudices currently held about taxi drivers.” South Yorkshire Police licensing officer PC Dave Thompson said that the force was looking forward to org- anising the seminars. He added: “We had a meeting with interest- ed parties because there has been anoth- er couple of incidents involving drivers more recently. “We are in the process of organising some open seminars to help the drivers read body language and realise possible risks and dan- gers more easily from people’s demeanour or behaviour.
“Our advice would always be to avoid physical conflict, hand over money and then report the incident to us afterwards.”
PHTM NOVEMBER 2010
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