CCTV cameras set to be mandatory in taxis

Peterborough City Council has given taxi drivers 12 to 18 months to implement the mandatory CCTV rule

A city council has voted to make CCTV mandatory in both Hackney black cabs and private hire taxis across the city.

Officers at a Peterborough City Council licensing committee meeting said public safety had prompted the decision. It was passed by six votes to three with two abstentions on Thursday.

Ali Haider from the Peterborough Taxi Hire Federation, which represents both Hackney and private hire, attended the meeting and said the proposal was "intrusive of privacy" and will lead to "a financial burden" on an already struggling trade.

He added the decision had made him "angry" and feared "many in the trade will be forced to leave".

'Unaffordable'

More than 100 operators and 1,800 taxi drivers who work across Peterborough must implement the new ruling within 12 to 18 months.

The policy was first recommended in 2022, and the council subsequently carried out a consultation between November last year and February.

It received more than 600 responses, which included 288 from people in the trade.

The main concerns raised by taxi drivers were that the costs of installing CCTV would be "unaffordable" and that it could "undermine client confidentiality".

Other responses came from those who welcomed the proposal, which included from passengers who said they felt "vulnerable" in a taxi.

This mandatory CCTV rule has recently also been implemented by some local authorities in response to issues where CCTV could make a difference.

Ali Haider (left) and Labour councillor Zameer Ali (right) spoke on behalf of the taxi drivers at the council meeting

According to a report from the licensing committee, "There is evidence to support the view that taxis and private hire vehicles are a high-risk environment."

Officers said the rule is for public safety, which includes both drivers and passengers.

In response, Mr Haider said there are "strict measures" in place to ensure passengers feel safe. They include tracking systems, which provide passengers with driver details, as well as enhanced driver checks and medical and immigration checks.

He also said trade was already impacted by "out-of-city drivers" who operate under other city council rules and would be exempt from the mandatory CCTV policy.

"We have drivers who fall under Lincolnshire, Rutland and Wolverhampton authorities operating here who don't have to follow this rule.

"It's an unfair advantage to them," added Mr Haider.

"I am afraid more Peterborough drivers, including myself, will have to leave and work for other authorities."

The licensing officer said they were aware of this cross-border driver issue and described it as "frustrating".

Mr Haider said among the issues drivers faced were "verbal abuse and theft".

"The CCTV won't prevent that. Instead we need better driver training and a pre-paid fare payment," he said.