CCTV in hackney carriage and private hire vehicles consultation 2023

Derby City Council is holding a public consultation on the introduction of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in hackney carriage and private hire vehicles (licensed taxis and cabs).

The Department of Transport recently issued statutory hackney carriage and private hire vehicle standards to licensing authorities, outlining how they should carry out their licensing function.

Whilst the focus of those standards is on protecting children and vulnerable adults, all passengers will benefit from the recommendations, which aim to better regulate the hackney carriage and private hire vehicle sector.

The Council, as a licensing authority, has been reviewing the standards in detail against our current practices. However, we do not currently have a requirement for CCTV within hackney carriage and private hire vehicles.

The standards set out that all licensing authorities should consult to identify if there are local circumstances which indicate that the installation of CCTV in vehicles would have either a positive or an adverse net effect on the safety of hackney carriage and private hire vehicle users, including children or vulnerable adults, and taking into account potential privacy issues.

The purpose of a hackney carriage and private hire vehicle CCTV system should be to provide a safer environment for the benefit of the driver and passengers by:

• Deterring and preventing the occurrence of crime;
• Reducing the fear of crime;
• Assisting the Police in investigating incidents of crime;
• Assisting insurance companies in investigating motor vehicle accidents.

We are now consulting on whether there should be the installation of CCTV systems within hackney carriage and/or private hire vehicles licensed by the Council. As set out above, in order to require CCTV in hackney carriage or private hire vehicles, the Council would need to be able to demonstrate that this is a proportionate response to local issues and can be justified.

We would welcome your views on the subject.