Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones has called for all licensing authorities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to make CCTV mandatory in Hackney carriages and taxis (private hire vehicles).
The Commissioner submitted a deputation to the Gosport Regulatory Board meeting where proposed amendments to taxi licensing requirements were discussed.
The deputation comes following the conviction of a taxi driver in Southampton in May 2023 who was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in his cab.
The police discovered footage on the mandatory CCTV camera installed in the car, which showed footage of the serious sexual assault leading to the conviction of the driver. The camera evidence resulted in a guilty plea preventing the victim from the added ordeal of a trial.
At the beginning of June, Commissioner Donna Jones wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper MP, to ask him to review the statutory licensing guidance for local authorities, and to consider mandating CCTV in taxis and private hire vehicles nationally.
Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said:
“Both of the cities in Hampshire already require CCTV cameras in taxis. Portsmouth and Southampton licensing conditions require CCTV to be fitted before a taxi licence is issued. Today I am calling for all Councils in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to follow suit with Gosport being the first to consider this issue.”
“The victim in the Southampton case could not recall the attack, but thanks to the camera installed inside the cab, a dangerous sexual predator has been removed from our communities. I strongly believe there are lessons to be learnt from horrific local incidents like this, just as much as the high profile cases we have witnessed over the last 2 years.”
Article continues below this advertisement “Councillor Lesley Meenaghan contacted me to ask about other areas and enquire about what more could be done to keep women safe. It’s clear where cameras are mandatory they are making people safer, and they are providing the Police the evidence they need to convict those who are a danger on our streets. There is also the protection that cameras provide to drivers who on occasion are victims of crime too.”
Commissioner Jones concluded:
“Whilst there are legitimate concerns about surveillance and data protection, I believe the safety of women outweigh risks to privacy, which is why I am asking for all local authorities to enforce these measures.”
CCTV is a poor substitute for having a real police force.
Who do f all about sex assaults anyway…
That’s all right but who pays for it the councils expect them.to but will not give a fare increase
And was the taxi driver a British Caucasian? Note such details have now been dropped from reported crime likely As so many crimes of such nature prove to be otherwise now.
Perhaps it would be wise to check newcomers to such a trustworthy job far more carefully. As if no traceable history, anyone of such intent would likely choose such a job with vulnerable woman, drunk aiming to get home safely.
We rightly vet those working with children but wasted young ladies are even more of a target for rapists
Very true wilbur, when we go out drinking we expect the safest way home is to order a cab.
Yet now, since the ex-London cabbie or true local known to all driver is long since gone, us women are at real risk from low life from god knows where.
They have the upper hand, as if as most are, the passengers are drunk, then they know any accusations will be that much harder to convince an already P.C afraid court to do the right thing.
Woman drivers would be a good choice, but then, they are at risk from such types of customer now.
Truly life without so much enrichment was so very much more safer and going out now to a club or pub is ruined forever for ladies in such places.
If we “vetted” all applicants for a hackney licence we would very soon run out of taxis.
It will never work to chase after the event. The only solution is to educate all youngtsers in social mores.
Oh dear; no-one seems to agree on what those mores should be,.
In Southampton are any taxi drivers white British? Sorry, am I allowed to say that?
On the Island we allready require a Criminal Record Check to get a Taxi and Private hire drivers licence.
As for a camera protecting the traveling public, It should protect the Drivers as well. If I remember correct the cost of the camera becomes part of the Vehical requirement to be licenced as a Taxi. And yes i’m guessing fares will have to go up. Sad times we live in.
No. He was asian.
We need different punishments for those not born here. Summary execution for any of them convicted of a jailable crime.
Errr inward facing dashcam, not CCTV- wrong description here…
Or are they suggesting that the on-board camera(s) transmits images back to a central station ?
No visible Police, No CCTV if the known crime hotspots.. welcome to the Isle of Wight tell me again what difference has this PCC made , apart from weekly photo ops ?? Sometimes With Pop Up Seely
We are living in a Mandatory World.
“Life was so much better pre March 2020”
This is just a sign of the times and what is coming to the world.
We will soon be living like the residents of China.
Surely the police barring service (dbs check) is there to weed out crims? Is she paying for the purchase and installation of said cctv? Or is this another tax on taxi drivers? Will female taxi drivers have to have it, because how many women are there on the sex offenders list? This woman is showing herself to be a prat already…. Quick work there love…
so councilors want to spy on people even more…..the ever increasing surveillance by little dictators using safety as an excuse is pathetic and sad
Bit of a nerve, how about CCTV on the streets to keep everyone safe. So much scum down here now.
I am an ex London cab driver and I would have welcomed any CCTV in my cab. The cost of installing, is claimed back from the inland revenue,( being fully tax deductible). Therefore, there is no need for a fare rise. Security for both passenger and driver is paramount and it would have been much easier FOR ME to prove in court when I was held up at gunpoint. I fully support Donna Jones in her deputation. Be lucky.