Taxi drivers back calls for CCTV (From Echo)
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Southend taxi drivers back calls for CCTV
9:00am Monday 3rd December 2012 in Local News
TAXI drivers have voted in favour of installing CCTV in their cars to improve safety - but they don’t want to pay for it.
Two out of three cabbies in Southend backed the move during a survey conducted by Southend Council to gauge the popularity of the system.
Council chiefs believe cameras could help to protect drivers against attacks from customers, as well as guard against allegations of wrongdoing by the cabbies.
However, more than half of the cabbies surveyed objected to the systems becoming compulsory, and three out of four said they could not afford them.
Dave Clift, president of the Southend Taxi Drivers Association, said: “I have had a CCTV system for some time, and it is very effective.
“It can provide the evidence that is needed in a court case or police investigation, and that is a comfort to both drivers and customers.
“But I do not think it should be compulsory. It’s up to each driver to decide.”
Cameras in cabs have become increasingly popular in countries around the world as a way of protecting drivers and solving disputes.
The systems, which can also record sound, record high-quality footage of customers in the back of taxis, the drivers and the road ahead.
In the council survey, 94 cabbies out of 142 - or 66 per cent - said CCTV would make them feel safer.
However, just 44 believed it should be compulsory, and only 32 said they would pay for it themselves.
Tino Callaghan, 54, has been driving taxis in Southend for 30 years and became the first in the town to install a CCTV system 12 years ago.
He now supplies other cabbies with similar devices, which cost about £300.
He said: “Nearly every cab in places like Korea and Hong Kong have these now, and they are starting to catch on over here.
“They are well worth it for the peace of mind they can offer.”
Several councils around the UK have already introduced policies which requires taxi drivers to include CCTV in their vehicles as part of their licences.
However, a spokesman for Southend Council said there were no plans for compulsory installations at the moment.
He said: “It is not something which is being actively pursued at the moment.
“However, it not been ruled out for the future.”
Comments(17)
Shoebury_Cyclist
says...
9:48am Mon 3 Dec 12
Eric Whim
says...
9:50am Mon 3 Dec 12
howironic
says...
10:02am Mon 3 Dec 12
Nebs
says...
10:42am Mon 3 Dec 12
Surely some sort of deal could be done by all interested parties to share the cost.
Brunning999
says...
10:52am Mon 3 Dec 12
'They do not want to pay for it'
Well if they wait a couple more years my three sons will help contribute after they have paid for every other parasitic Chav family in the area first, then provide homes for the homeless Eastern Europeans, then better living conditions for murderers and rapists in prison, then provide more hostels for all the drunks and druggies after we have paid for all the provided drug substitutes (that allegedly is the only thing stopping them from robbing us etc)
Please spare us WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS MINORITY PARASITIC CHAV SHYTS.
gesso90
says...
10:58am Mon 3 Dec 12
saddo99
says...
10:59am Mon 3 Dec 12
Shoebury_Cyclist
says...
12:26pm Mon 3 Dec 12
Brunning999 wrote:Seriously, move to Somalia. No government, no tax, everyone looks out for themselves. You'll love it.
More brainwashed thinking by the all encompassing socialist world!
'They do not want to pay for it'
Well if they wait a couple more years my three sons will help contribute after they have paid for every other parasitic Chav family in the area first, then provide homes for the homeless Eastern Europeans, then better living conditions for murderers and rapists in prison, then provide more hostels for all the drunks and druggies after we have paid for all the provided drug substitutes (that allegedly is the only thing stopping them from robbing us etc)
Please spare us WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS MINORITY PARASITIC CHAV SHYTS.
Antonius
says...
12:34pm Mon 3 Dec 12
howironic wrote:Oooo, me too pleeeeeezzzz
I want CCTV in my home but can't afford it, can someone else pay for it for me please.
southlondonshrimper
says...
12:53pm Mon 3 Dec 12
Alekhine
says...
12:56pm Mon 3 Dec 12
On the final day of his holiday, he called a cab to the airport.
During the journey, a Nissan drove past the cab. Thereupon, the man leaned forward excitedly and shouted, "Nissan, very fast! Made in Japan!"
After a while, a Toyota zoomed past the cab. Again, the Japanese man leaned out of the window and shouted, " Toyota, very fast! Made in Japan!"
And then a Mitsubishi sped past the cab. For the third time, the the man leaned forward excitedly and shouted, ", Mitsubishi! Made in Japan!"
The driver was a little irritated, but he kept quiet... this went on for quite some time. Finally, the cab arrived at the airport.
The fare was £150... The Japanese man exclaimed, "Wah?... so expensive!"
The driver replied, "Meter, very fast! Made in Japan!"
GentleGiant
says...
4:14pm Mon 3 Dec 12
saddo99 wrote:You are already filmed many times a day already.
From a personal point of view I would walk 100 miles barefoot before I,d call a taxi. But I can see the benefit of having footage should something go wrong. Would anyone want to be filmed 24 hours a day? Big Brother contestants aside!
No difference here.
However the cab owners should pay for it.
saddo99
says...
5:12pm Mon 3 Dec 12
GentleGiant wrote:Yeah, but I don't mind. He who has nothing to hide has nothing to fear!
saddo99 wrote: From a personal point of view I would walk 100 miles barefoot before I,d call a taxi. But I can see the benefit of having footage should something go wrong. Would anyone want to be filmed 24 hours a day? Big Brother contestants aside!You are already filmed many times a day already. No difference here. However the cab owners should pay for it.
Olivia2847
says...
5:51pm Mon 3 Dec 12
Shoebury_Cyclist
says...
6:36pm Mon 3 Dec 12
saddo99 wrote:That's what people in Germany said in the 1930s.
GentleGiant wrote:Yeah, but I don't mind. He who has nothing to hide has nothing to fear!
saddo99 wrote: From a personal point of view I would walk 100 miles barefoot before I,d call a taxi. But I can see the benefit of having footage should something go wrong. Would anyone want to be filmed 24 hours a day? Big Brother contestants aside!You are already filmed many times a day already. No difference here. However the cab owners should pay for it.
sosad 1
says...
6:44pm Mon 3 Dec 12
Brunning999 wrote:brunning stop it youre winning me over cab drivers are lazy scum
More brainwashed thinking by the all encompassing socialist world!
'They do not want to pay for it'
Well if they wait a couple more years my three sons will help contribute after they have paid for every other parasitic Chav family in the area first, then provide homes for the homeless Eastern Europeans, then better living conditions for murderers and rapists in prison, then provide more hostels for all the drunks and druggies after we have paid for all the provided drug substitutes (that allegedly is the only thing stopping them from robbing us etc)
Please spare us WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS MINORITY PARASITIC CHAV SHYTS.
perini says...
9:08am Mon 3 Dec 12