Pressure grows on councils to fit mandatory CCTV in taxis and PHVs

Increasing numbers of licensing authorities are looking at whether to make in-cab CCTV mandatory in a bid to safeguard children and vulnerable adults.

Councils in Essex and Gloucestershire are among those to launch public consultations on whether or not all taxis and private hire vehicles should have CCTV in the vehicle.

Under Government guidelines launched in July 2020, all councils are expected to consider whether they should have a local policy mandating CCTV in taxis. This month Stroud District Council in Gloucestershire and Uttlesford District Council in Essex have both said they are planning to install the devices if the local taxi trade and public are in support. The statutory guidance states that the Government expects the recommendations to be implemented unless there is a compelling local reason not to.

The DfT claims CCTV can improve safety for passengers and drivers, and make it easier for incidents to be investigated.

Chris Brine, community services and licensing committee chair of Stroud District Council, said: “There is an important balance to be struck and we want to get this right.” A consultation has been launched, which runs until August 14.

Over in Essex, Uttlesford District Council wants to make sure the devices would improve the safety of local taxis or result in privacy issues before proceeding with the plan.

The council’s Licensing and Environmental Health Committee this month approved an eight-week public consultation on the plans. According to the draft survey, both video and audio recording is being considered.

According to DfT data, only 15 licensing authorities out of 280 insist on mandatory CCTV.

Licensing officer Steven Mahoney said: “Most of those measures have already been adhered to already, we’ve ticked most of those boxes. But the one we haven’t done is a consultation on the CCTV in hackney carriages and private hire.”

During the consultation period, the requirements for CCTV provision in taxis and private hire vehicles would be advertised to the public. The findings will be presented at a second committee meeting in October. The public will be asked for their opinions on audio and video CCTV and whether they believe it will have an impact on passenger safety.