Adverts pay for in-car CCTV

4:28am Wednesday 23rd April 2008

Some taxi companies in the Bradford district are stepping up security with in-car CCTV cameras.

Changes in advertising regulations agreed by Bradford Council mean that companies can sell advertising space on their vehicles and use the money to pay for CCTV systems in the vehicles.

Metro Keighley Taxis has struck up deals with three companies and has so far installed CCTV in five cabs.

Managing director Nigel Brett said: "These cameras have been on trial for about a year. Our policy is now to put cameras in all new vehicles.

"Parents now ring if their young daughter is going for a night out and specifically request one of our camera cabs."

Girlington Taxis is the biggest private hire taxi company in Bradford with more than 170 drivers.

Company owner Yasser Iqbal said: "Several of our drivers have been attacked in the past and we're very concerned so we're very much in favour of in-car CCTV.

"We are definitely going to take advantage of the new regulation as the situation is getting worse.

"We're the first port of call when people come out of nightclubs - we're easy prey.

"I think it'll make a big difference - even signs saying we have CCTV will act as a deterrent.

"We're going to look into it in the near future.

CD Khalid, chairman of the Hackney Carriages Association in Bradford, has called for the Council to install CCTV at taxi ranks. He said: "There should be a camera installed at all taxi ranks so that these attackers can be identified."

A Council spokesman said: "Our Hackney carriage and private hire unit says CCTV at taxi ranks is not something the Council would be able to fund. Also, any criminal activity which takes place on streets by taxi ranks is solely a police matter."

A police spokesman said: "Taxi companies would have to fund their own CCTV at ranks as would any commercial company but much of the street will be covered by the Council's cameras anyway."