Date issued: 3 February 2020
Colchester Borough Council is consulting on installing CCTV cameras in hackney carriage and private hire vehicles to help provide the highest standards of public safety, protecting both the public and drivers. The consultation is open until 30 April 2020 and can be found at colchester.gov.uk/cctvconsultation
Councillor Mike Lilley, Colchester Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Communities, Wellbeing and Public Safety, said: “I see this as a proactive move to ensure we’re doing all we can to keep those who live, work and visit Colchester safe.
“Research has shown that when someone is being recorded, they are more likely to be better behaved and taxis have been known to be used for criminal activities. The footage recorded will provide invaluable evidence to enable us to take robust action against those who choose to abuse drivers and passengers or break the law.
“We would like to hear from residents, business and visitors on this proposal.”
Under the proposed policy, the CCTV cameras will continually record when the vehicle is in use. The CCTV footage is subject to strict policies that comply with the requirements of the Information Commission. The data recorded from these cameras cannot be monitored by the driver or vehicle owner, and relevant data will only be recovered when necessary by Colchester Borough Council.
Once the public consultation finishes, the results will go to the Licensing Committee meeting in June 2020.
Page last reviewed: 3 February 2020