Preston Council propose taxi drivers pay for CCTV in cabs

Taxi drivers will be left to fork out up to £600 on CCTV in their cabs after Preston Council refused to fund their own proposals.

Plans were put forward last week to install CCTV in 190 black cabs to “improve the safety and security of drivers and passengers”.

Drivers have demanded help with the cost, but council bosses have refused.

A council spokesperson said: “It’s only a recommendation that drivers may want to install CCTV.

"But as commercial operators they’re there to make a profit.

"It’s not the best use of tax payers money in a privately run business.”

The proposals were made at a meeting between trade chiefs and police last week. Concern for the safety of drivers has been rising since one had his ear bitten off in an early morning attack.

Eddie McClean gave up his job with a private hire firm two years ago following an attack. He recently began driving a black cab because the cars are safer.

He said: “I’ll be installing a system because I was attacked two weeks ago. About ten cabs I know of already have them; the one I’ve chosen is £600.

"There are cheaper ones but I want to feel safe.

"I was hoping the council would put some funding towards it and actually help us with the cost of doing it.

"They refuse to pay because we’re businesses but they admit themselves that it’s for passenger safety as much as our own.”

Robert Ward gave up driving after an attack and now works on a firm’s switchboard.

He said: “If you put CCTV in town centres it cuts crime rates so obviously this will have an effect. From the other point of view it also makes more women feel safe as passengers.

“If this is going to become a standard the council should be meeting at least half the costs; other councils around the country have managed to fund it with various partnerships and schemes.”

One of those is in Blackpool, where advertising space inside cabs has been used to fund surveillance systems.

The council added: “It would be good practice for drivers’ own safety and security and for passengers’ but we’re not suggesting it is compulsory.”

Plans will be finalised later this year.

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