CCTV may be put in all Wakefield taxis as part of rule changes

CCTV cameras may be installed in taxis in Wakefield as part of a raft of new measures designed to make passengers safer.
By David Spereall
Published 22nd Oct 2020, 12:30 GMT
If the new policy is approved, drivers will be expected to do more safeguarding training, while operators would have more responsibility to do DBS checks.If the new policy is approved, drivers will be expected to do more safeguarding training, while operators would have more responsibility to do DBS checks.
If the new policy is approved, drivers will be expected to do more safeguarding training, while operators would have more responsibility to do DBS checks.

The government is asking local authorities across the country to review the rules their local cabbies have to follow.

Under a proposed new policy put forward by Wakefield Council, drivers will have to do more frequent safeguarding training, while operators will be given more responsibility for carrying out criminal record checks.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

If the policy is adopted, a separate consultation on whether or not to enforce CCTV in taxis is likely to be carried out.

Taxi driver Wajid Ali said he'd be in favour of CCTV in private hire vehicles, saying it would protect cabbies as well as the public.Taxi driver Wajid Ali said he'd be in favour of CCTV in private hire vehicles, saying it would protect cabbies as well as the public.
Taxi driver Wajid Ali said he'd be in favour of CCTV in private hire vehicles, saying it would protect cabbies as well as the public.

Local cabbie and spokesman for the Wakefield Drivers Association (WDA), Wajid Ali, indicated he would be in favour of the changes.

"CCTV, if it's properly put in place and has voice recording, will make life safer for drivers as well as passengers," he said.

"It will stop false accusations and attacks on drivers.

"I've been an advocate of it for a number of years now.

"In terms of safeguarding a lot of these things are already covered, but if it's more stringent then we'd welcome anything that filters out more dangerous drivers out there that shouldn't be on the road and protects the good drivers."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A 12 week consultation on all aspects of the new policy will start imminently, with details to be published on the council's website. Drivers and members of the public are encourage to take part.

Speaking at a licensing committee meeting on Wednesday, a senior council officer said although a number of "hurdles" would have to be overcome to make CCTV mandatory, he would "strongly recommend" the system.

Christopher Burnett said: "CCTV is an area which is rightly more and more prominent in the licensing arena.

"We are considering our position on CCTV and I'm happy to talk to councillors over the next few weeks about this.

"One issue would be that if the cameras fail the vehicle (licence) would be suspended.

"We'd need to protect against data being lost or not recorded."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Related topics:CCTVWakefieldWakefield CouncilDrivers