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Posted on the 30th April 2025 in PHTM News
SOUTH STAFFS TO INTRODUCE PANIC SWITCH AUDIO RECORDING FOR ENHANCED SAFETY IN TAXIS
Taxi drivers and passengers in South Staffordshire will soon have the option to activate audio recording during journeys via a new "panic switch" system.
This move by South Staffordshire Council's licensing committee aims to bolster safety following a worrying spate of assaults on taxi drivers in the region.
The decision to permit the installation of CCTV systems with optional audio recording comes after an extensive consultation last year, which garnered significant support for the measure. An overwhelming 88% of the 1,329 respondents believed audio recording would enhance passenger safety, while 96% felt it would better protect drivers.
A council report underscored the escalating safety concerns, referencing "several high-profile assaults on licensed drivers," including the tragic manslaughter of Wolverhampton driver Anakh Singh in October 2022 and the murder of Mohammed Istakhar in Solihull in November 2022.
The report also highlighted a more recent knife attack on a taxi driver in April 2024 after picking up a passenger from Coventry Railway Station.
The report stated that: "Given the risk to the council's drivers, the position on audio recording and its crime deterrent benefits has been reviewed, to provide greater protection to drivers from this type of attack."
While not mandatory, the new policy will allow drivers to install the audio equipment if they choose. Crucially, a "panic switch" will be fitted inside the taxis, enabling either the driver or the passenger to initiate audio recording when necessary.
Greg Bickerdike, licensing manager at City of Wolverhampton Council, which manages taxi licensing for South Staffordshire, clarified that it is not a "mandatory requirement" but will empower drivers to install the equipment.
He emphasised the dual accessibility of the system, explaining: "For the protection of them and passengers' privacy, there will be a switch the driver or passenger can turn on at any time. It's not just a one-way thing, it has to be accessible to both taxi passengers and drivers."
Officials have stressed that this mutual accessibility is paramount, ensuring that both parties can quickly activate recording in a threatening situation.
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