Taxi Driver Online

CCTV helping to prevent trouble, says taxi driver


TROUBLEMAKERS become “church mice” when they are told that their taxi journey is being recorded, a leading cabbie has claimed.

Terry Cooper, the outgoing chairman of the Basingstoke Hackney Carriage Federation, said that a decision six months ago to allow taxis in Basingstoke to carry CCTV cameras and microphones has proved very successful – for those drivers who can afford it. The big problem is that many cabbies are struggling to get their hands on the money they need to pay for the cameras.

“We’ve run into a brick wall as far as any grant or funding being available,” said Mr Cooper.

As a result, he said that his taxi, and its £810 CCTV system, was one of only three among the 55 cabs operating in Basingstoke currently carrying the cameras.

Mr Cooper said that 99 per cent of his customers are well behaved but the camera equipment has made him feel safer carrying the tiny minority who are troublemakers.

“Those rowdies that start to give you threats, they’re non-existent once you tell them they’re being recorded on sound and vision and that this can be presented in court,” he said. “It’s like a magic beam that turns them all into church mice.”

The deterrent effect of the CCTV has meant that it has not been necessary for the police or Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council licensing officers to access any of the footage recorded so far.

Mr Cooper said that the cameras are good for both drivers and passengers because they enable any complaint against a driver to be easily investigated, and some of his fares had said they felt safer knowing that the CCTV system was being used.

Borough council licensing committee chairman Councillor Rita Burgess said that cab drivers would have to fund their own camera system in the same way that pubs and clubs do.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

It really is the way forward, all we need is to get someone to pay for it.

I wonder if the likes of Cab Direct and The Taxi Centre should automatically add it to all the cars they sell to the trade.

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IDFIMH

That has always been my opinion but I suspect it won't happen until all licensing authorities allow cctv or the DfT change legislation.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Which ones dont JD?

regards

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I honestly don't know but I do know that up until the last few months Manchester didn't so I suspect there are others don't you?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Possibly there are....but I cant see any application being turned down....not if the applicant does things right anyway.

regards

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Not sure it's officially allowed in London.

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IDFIMH

Has the trade actually asked?

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

A certain union's Branch President has got one in his minicab, but that is a case of testing.

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IDFIMH