Brighton and Hove taxis could get CCTV (From The Argus)

Brighton and Hove taxis could get CCTV

1:40pm Thursday 24th June 2010 in News

CCTV cameras could have to be installed in all new taxis licensed in Brighton and Hove to stop drivers snubbing the disabled.

Council officials want the technology installed to catch cabbies who refuseto take disabled passengers or don't carry them safely.

But taxi drivers say the measures will deprive them of their privacy as the cameras will not be switched off even if they are using the vehicle in their own time.

A report for Brighton and Hove City Council by the GMB union and the Brighton and Hove Federation of Disabled People recommends that drivers should have to pay for the costs of the CCTV cameras in their cabs.

Installation would cost around £70 with an additional weekly charge of up to £10.

At present, the use of CCTV inside cabs in Brighton and Hove is optional, which is in line with other councils in the region.

Some borough councils including Crawley and Eastbourne have encouraged the take-up of CCTV by offering grant schemes or part funding for the installation of cameras.

But the move to make them compulsory has not been backed by taxi drivers even though the report suggested CCTV would give drivers greater protection and more evidence when they are involved in incidents.

Geraldine Desmoulins, the chief officer at the Brighton and Hove Federation of Disabled People, said: “CCTV would give us evidence to see if things were going wrong but would also be used for the protection of taxi drivers as well.

“We welcome this review. We know that wheelchair access is particularly low in the city when compared to other similar sized cities.”

The council has been forced to act to meet new legislation set to come into law later this year.

Councils will have a duty when giving out taxi licenses to eliminate harassment and unlawful discrimination against disabled people and to take steps to meet disabled people's needs, even if this requires more favourable treatment.

The report, to be considered by the council's licensing committee, also recommends new licences should only be given to side-loading vehicles such as people carriers - suggesting as much as 50% of all taxis must be wheelchair accessible.

At present only 126 out of 530 taxis in the city are wheelchair accessible.