Cabbies' cameras will record crime
by Aimi Moores
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FOCUS ON CRIME: Arfan Mohammed, of A1 taxis, with one of the miniature cameras, pictured with council principal licensing officer Glyn Cross, left, and neighbourhood policing unit inspector Shaun Kerrigan.
TAXI drivers are hoping on-board CCTV cameras will put the brakes on crime and anti-social behaviour.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Police now have the computer software to take footage from cabs to be used as evidence.
Drivers will have to buy the cameras themselves at a cost of around £150.
But the technology will mean images can be downloaded at Etruria's Northern Area Custody Facility.
Taxi bosses who already have CCTV systems say they are an effective weapon against problem passengers.
Arfan Mohammed, owner of A1 National Embassy private hire firm, has cameras fitted in all his 92 cabs.
The 30-year-old said: "Since we had the cameras drivers are getting zero hassle. As soon as someone gets in the cab they see the signs and know the camera's there.
"It also makes customers more comfortable and relaxed if they know there's CCTV, especially women on their own, or parents who call us to pick up their children.
"Now the police and the council have this software it makes it easier for drivers to purchase the cameras and protect themselves."
Previously a driver would have needed extra kit to download the images from cameras themselves.
But the authorities are now able to extract the evidence and the city council's licensing department can also install software to imprint images with the vehicle's registration details and the date and time.
That will mean they make better evidence if required by police.
Glyn Cross, the authority's principal licensing officer, said: "We can put details of the vehicle's registration onto the camera's memory card. This links the camera to a vehicle.
"The police are the only ones who can download the pictures so they can't be interfered with, which will protect their integrity if they are needed as evidence."
The £1,000 software is funded by The Safer City Partnership.
Figures are not kept relating specifically to attacks on cabbies in the region.
But Inspector Shaun Kerrigan, commander of the city centre neighbourhood policing unit, said: "This will offer reassurance for drivers and the public. It's open to Hackney carriage and private hire drivers.
"We don't have many incidents of attacks of taxi drivers, but this will be a deterrent."
Dave Currie, secretary of Stoke-on-Trent Private Hire Association, pictured, believes drivers need help to buy the cameras.
He said: "The crucial aspect of this CCTV is it has to be affordable."
Anyone interested in installing CCTV in their taxi should contact Stoke-on-Trent City Council's licensing department on 01782 232774.
Other taxi stories:
Bogus taxi driver still at large
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Sentinel comment: Why taxi NVQs make sense
Letter: How did council come up with exorbitant taxi prices?
Passenger attacked and robbed in taxi
5 Comments
by Ian, Leighton Buzzard
Saturday, August 29 2009, 10:50AM
“Cameras are a good idea if they are very secure. Seems to me that if the driver can buy the items needed to downlopad pictures there isn't much security or privacy. If a driver can access the pictures can he delete any that might incriminate him? Could he access the pictures and publish them on U-Tube?”
by Dave, Meir Park
Sunday, July 12 2009, 10:27PM
“It would be good if the same cameras could catch the taxi drivers that lie to you about their charges when you get in after a night out (or even catch them making illegal pickups in the first place in Hanley or Newcastle).. oh and speeding around on their mobile phones and no seat belt on, music blaring. Some of the stuff some of the taxi drivers get up to is far worse than what some of their customers do!”
by john, stoke on trent
Saturday, July 11 2009, 3:49PM
“The best thing to with the cameras is point at the speedo's as the vast amount of
them are flouting the speed limits tearing around the city.”
by kate, tunstall
Saturday, July 11 2009, 9:35AM
“they are a good idea but how many will go missing or be broke when they are plying for hire on weekend evenings or that a customer has a complaint well see.”
by zoe marshall, stoke-on-trent
Saturday, July 11 2009, 9:02AM
“that is a gd idea because too many cab drivers get attacked and mugged and also it is a gd idea to protect passengers too as many of the taxi drivers beat passengers up.”