East Riding Council has introduced a new scheme aimed at safeguarding taxi drivers and their passengers. After a spate of physical and verbal attacks against cabbies in 2016, the authorities have rolled out an initiative that offers free CCTV cameras to those who want them.
Spike in Violence Against Taxi Drivers
The scheme was initiated in January of last year when Kevin Marsh, the owner of a local taxi firm, found that his drivers were experiencing a spike in instances of physical and verbal abuse from customers. In 2016, Marsh said: “It’s not fair on the drivers. They feel they have no option but to go home when the drunks start pouring out of the pub because they just don’t feel safe.” Marsh installed CCTV cameras in his entire fleet of cars with a view to protecting the drivers from both violence and false allegations made by customers.
Customer Protection
However, East Riding’s initiative is designed to offer protection to both the drivers and their passengers. The council’s Licensing Officer, Tina Holtby, said that the scheme was put in place “…to assist with accidents and to prevent potential assaults on drivers. It also makes customers feel safer when they’re getting a taxi home and we’re also putting the cameras into school contract vehicles.”
A Win-Win Situation
So far, more than 60 taxi drivers have had CCTV cameras installed in their vehicles with some of the registered vehicles being marked with easily-recognisable white and green colours. One of the first taxi drivers to agree to take part in the scheme, Steve Cox, said: “It’s a win-win situation as it protects drivers who are working late at night while giving peace of mind to customers too. With some of the vehicles now branded with the white and green livery and the addition of CCTV, it gives that extra layer of security to everyone.”
“It’s a win-win situation as it protects drivers who are working late at night while giving peace of mind to customers too.”
A Positive Step
Despite the problems of 2016, the project is being treated as a preventative measure to head off crime before it happens rather than a combative response. Councillor Horton said: “This is a positive step and a preventative measure in raising the bar for the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults using our transport services. It’s designed to offer reassurance and protection, not only to customers but to drivers too. Many of the drivers who have voluntarily agreed to take part in this scheme regularly work late into the night where they can become victims of assault or have passengers who make false allegations.”
As part of the scheme, drivers can have the cameras installed free of charge although the equipment remains the property of the East Riding Council. Fair’s fair.