TAXIS throughout Inverclyde will soon be able to have CCTV fitted after a series of attacks and robberies in recent years - including one which left a cabbie scarred for life.

In a landmark decision, councillors yesterday voted unanimously to allow operators to have cameras in their cabs in a bid to end a litany of violent incidents.

The move comes after trade bosses and elected members called for a ban on CCTV in taxis to be lifted following an attack on a driver at Nelson Street last August which left him permanently disfigured.

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Members of the general purposes board have now approved a new policy which will allow drivers to install and operate CCTV cameras within their vehicles.

It is hoped that the new measures will help prevent and detect crime and assist insurance companies in investigating motor insurance incidents.  

Councillors also backed a motion from councillor Martin McCluskey to instruct officers to run a public consultation on the use of dashcams in taxis and private hire cars, with the intention of integrating the outcome into the new policy at a later date.

Greenock Telegraph: Councillor Martin McCluskey CCTV for taxis.

Speaking in favour of approving the new policy and holding the consultation, the Labour politician said: “I think it’s going to make a really big difference to people and I know it’s something that for a long time operators and taxi drivers in the area have asked for.

“I don’t think it’s going to make things better just in terms of safety for drivers but I think it’s going to improve safety for passengers as well and hopefully also give those who are thinking of entering the trade a bit of reassurance.

“We have a shortage of taxi drivers in Inverclyde at the moment and it would be good to see more people enter the trade.

“Hopefully this will provide people with more reassurance about their safety because I know that’s been a barrier in the past.”

Board members gave council officers authority to commence consultation on the installation of cameras in local cabs last September in response to taxi operators’ calls.

It received a total of six responses from local firms, with every response supporting the draft policy.

All taxis and private hire cars with CCTV will be required to display signage indicating that it is in operation and explaining the purpose of the recording.

Images stored in the CCTV system can be retained for a maximum of 31 days, with the policy also setting out requirements around the use of the recordings.

The approved document states that the systems should not be used to record conversations between members of the public as it is ‘highly intrusive’ and says that the CCTV should not have a sound recording facility wherever possible.

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The driver injured on Nelson Street was one of a number who have been threatened or harmed while working in taxis or private hire vehicles in recently years.

Earlier this year the Tele told how a masked knifeman had held a blade against a taxi driver’s throat in a terrifying 2am robbery and threatened to ‘cut’ the driver before fleeing with just £50 in coins.

In 2020, a pair of men were charged with committing separate knifepoint robberies against local drivers within minutes of each other.

Another driver was held up at Greenock Cemetery in 2019 after a thug duped the cabbie into a bogus fare, however the would-be robber fled with nothing after the brave vehicle owner grabbed his knife and snapped it.

A teenager was branded a thug by a sheriff in November of 2018 after punching a driver in the face during a late night incident on Roxburgh Street.

Council officers told councillors at yesterday’s meeting that they were optimistic the new policy could be implemented quickly following its approval.