Taxi Driver Online

August 3, 2007 Friday

Cameras for city's taxis

Taxis in Stoke-on-Trent are to have CCTV cameras installed to help reduce booze-fuelled attacks by customers.

The city's 1,200 Hackney Carriage and private hire drivers would kit their vehicles out with hi-tech surveillance units.

Licensing officials at Stoke-on-Trent City Council want the equipment to be fitted in order for cabbies to trade. However, installing the state-of-the-art cameras would cost between £200 and £1,000 and there is concern over who should foot the bill.

Dave Currie, secretary of Stoke-on-Trent Private Hire Association which represents 700 drivers, believes the city council should stump up the cash.

Joy Garner, chairman of Stoke-on-Trent's Licensing and Consumer Protection Committee, is a backing the CCTV plan. She said: "It's safer for everyone concerned."

To avoid tampering, footage will only be accessible by the council or police, and could be used as evidence in court.
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Bit of a coincidence after the proposal to make them mandatory in Brighton?

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Taxi Driver Online
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