CARDIF-Cameras bid to help keep cabbies safe

Cameras bid to help keep cabbies safe

Phillip Nifield, South Wales Echo

CAMERAS are being fitted to cabs in the city as part of a new drive to reduce attacks on drivers.

The move comes just a few days after passengers threatened to pull a gun on a cabbie, assaulting him and stealing his money in Gorse Place, Fairwater, Cardiff.

Dragon Taxis, the biggest private hire company with 385 cabs, said that 70 of its drivers had asked for the autocam to be installed.

The cameras will be live at all times and in an emergency drivers will be able to push a button to record images during any incidents.

Specialist software is required to download images although drivers will not have access to it themselves.

Carl Tritschler, of Dragon Taxis, said: “Technology has made cameras affordable and once some drivers put in the cameras I’m sure others will follow.

“They will act as a deterrent and I hope it will lead to people thinking twice before causing problems. And if they don’t we will have photographs available that can be used in court. They’ve already been introduced in cities like Derby and Sheffield and have proved effective as a deterrence.”

Approval for cameras was given by the city’s public protection committee.

Llanishen councillor Bob Smith, a regular taxi user who chairs the committee, said: “I hope the signs warning passengers that they could be recorded will act as a deterrent. But if not, the film should help to catch those who resort to unacceptable behaviour.

“I hope other taxi firms will follow this initiative and take it on board.”

Salahuddin Roshan, a taxi driver from Heath, Cardiff, said: “Why shouldn’t we have cameras? Other cities allow it. It’s a very good idea.

“At least people will know they’re being filmed so they might be afraid to touch us. It might make them think before they do anything.”

Safir Hussain, a driver from Roath, Cardiff, believed it was important for taxi drivers to have full access to any security footage from the cameras.

He said: “If you’re not doing anything wrong, you don’t need to worry about being filmed.”