Taxi Driver Online

Swindon council brings back policy of mandatory CCTV for taxis

All taxis and private hire vehicles in Swindon could be made to install CCTV in the cab if a new suggested policy is approved.

Swindon Borough Council's licensing committee will be asked to sign off putting the suggested plan out to a public consultation - and the chairman Dale Heenan wants to hear from people who use taxis just as much as those who drive them.

The report to the committee says: "A member of the public stepping into a licensed motor vehicle driven by a stranger must be able to place trust in that individual to be competent and safe. Taxi drivers often convey elderly, young and vulnerable individuals for a host of reasons.

“The authority has a responsibility to ensure their safeguarding role is carried out adequately and effectively."

It adds: "The installation of CCTV in licensed vehicles in not a new initiative, and nor is it now uncommon. Some councils have found it to be a deterrent to would-be troublemakers and a source of evidence in cases of disputes between drivers and passengers."

Committee chairman Dale Heenan indicated in a number of tweets that he felt such a move could prove helpful. He wrote: "Ten years ago Sian O'Callaghan was murdered by cabbie Chris Halliwell, a resident of Nythe which I represent as a councillor. I remember the police briefing.

"An issue wrestled with for years - should Swindon council make CCTV in taxis mandatory - is back. Almost every taxi I've seen has a dashcam, so is it time? Will it help passenger safety? Will it aid drivers in disputes? Will it help Wiltshire Police with catching fare dodgers like last year? Is cost the main reason not to proceed? If so, are there ways to deal with that?

"Would taxi CCTV help reassure women alone at night? What more can Swindon council do through licensing to ensure that all women and girls can enjoy licensed premises and arrive home safely?

"I welcome the thoughts and ideas of all residents and the trade, but in particular females who have ever had a concern. There may be perspectives and issues that as a man I’ve never experienced so we should ensure everyone’s voice is heard, no matter how difficult to hear."

In November 2019 a suggestion to make cameras mandatory was watered down to simply encouraging taxi drivers to installing them after representatives of the taxi trade said it would cost the fleet about £1m.

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IDFIMH

These schemes sound great in principle but it is always an extra burden on the driver either financially or regulatory

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Until something happens which the driver hasn't got recorded, that could save his livelihood.

Then it's a very small price to pay.

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IDFIMH

After the official opposition to compulsory CCTV in Derby, another one put on the back burner.

But the rationale here is a bit different, and indeed a very odd and unusual reasoning for delaying implementation of a licensing policy. Although certainly a compelling enough rationale.

The Swindon Advertiser's headline below is a bit misleading, though - the word 'shelved' suggests a degree of permanence, whereas it's just being delayed, and there's no suggestion that it won't be implemented. Eventually.


Plans for CCTV in all Swindon taxis shelved

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/new ... s-shelved/

A policy of making CCTV in taxis in Swindon mandatory – which the council says is desirable to keep both passengers and drivers safe – has been put back by at least a year.

Swindon Borough Council’s licensing team has been consulting with drivers of both hackney and private hire vehicles over its plan to mandate tv and recording in all licensed taxis in the town for nearly two years.

It had hoped to get approval for the policy so that new vehicles had cameras installed by the start of next year and all cabs had them by April 1.

But resignations and the state of the council’s finances mean that that date has had to be put back, and progress on the policy shelved.

A report to the council’s licensing committee says: “In recent weeks, three licensing officers have resigned from the council - this equates to 2.6 full-time equivalents from a total of 3.6 full-time equivalents.

“Due to the council’s current financial situation, the service has the approval to recruit two full-time officers and this recruitment is in progress.

“It means that there is currently insufficient resource available to progress the delivery of CCTV in taxis at this time. It is hoped that the council’s financial position will improve, but for the time being the implementation timetable has been adjusted to reflect this situation.”

The report says now the council hopes that new taxis will have CCTV by January 1 2024 and all vehicles by April.

Is every other licensing policy being delayed until 2024?

Fare rises? License fee rises? Enforcement?

All it needs is someone to write up a report.

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IDFIMH

Staffing issues getting worse, by the sounds of it.

But I wonder what will be finally sorted out first? Swindon's CCTV or Uber's VAT postion?

I suspect the VAT thing will end up in the courts for years on end, so I'd put money on Swindon's CCTV getting sorted out first


Delay announced for major changes to Swindon taxi services

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/new ... -services/

The expected date for mandatory CCTV in Swindon taxis may slip.

Last September members of Swindon Borough Council’s licensing committee authorised the licensing manager to draft a policy on mandating CCTV in both Hackney and private hire vehicles – and to bring it back to the committee.

The aim was to start on January 1, 2024, for new licence applications and April next year for renewed licences.

But the council’s head of regulatory services, Kate Bishop told the committee that staff shortages had put the work towards the back burner: “Within the last 10 months a number of licensing officers and the licensing manager have left the borough council.

“This has meant that the progress expected has not been made as the resources and expertise have not been available. As a result, the timeline and work requirement are currently being reviewed.”

Chairman on the committee Coun John Ballman said: “We’ll let this go back on the agenda for the September meeting and we’ll see where we are then. Hopefully it will be sorted.”

The council has been discussing and consulting on bringing CCTV into all taxis in the borough since at least 2019. Drivers have expressed concern with making it mandatory owing to the cost and also privacy and security issues.

Or maybe even free energy nuclear fusion.

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IDFIMH

Another change of heart.

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/new ... taxi-cctv/

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IDFIMH