Follow PHTM
Posted on the 4th June 2025 in PHTM News
PETERBOROUGH COUNCILLOR PUSHES FOR MANDATORY UK WIDE TAXI CCTV AMID SAFETY DEBATE
A Peterborough independent councillor has launched a petition advocating for compulsory CCTV installation in all licensed taxis and private hire vehicles across the UK, arguing it would enhance safety for both passengers and drivers.
Cllr Daisy Blakemore-Creedon, 19, believes such a measure would boost public confidence, particularly for those travelling late at night.
"CCTV can make a real difference. It deters bad behaviour, helps resolve disputes, and gives people more confidence to get home safely, especially late at night," she wrote in her petition.
She also emphasised the benefit for drivers, stating: "Drivers deserve that security too, many work alone, often in vulnerable situations. This is a simple, sensible step that would make a big impact."
Blakemore-Creedon, who resigned from the Labour Group earlier this month citing accusations of racism after raising the CCTV issue, stressed the non-political nature of women's safety.
"Women’s safety should not be politicised. Peterborough needs to act. Let’s stop debating and start protecting the people that rely on these journeys every day," she posted on social media.
A Labour Party spokesperson confirmed that all complaints are "assessed thoroughly."
However, the proposal has drawn mixed reactions from some in the taxi industry. Jake Carter, a hackney carriage driver in Peterborough, acknowledged the initial appeal of increased safety but raised concerns about the practicalities. "My first thoughts, probably like much of the public, were that it sounds like a sensible thing to do because you’re putting extra safety and security in place," he said.
Carter highlighted the financial burden on drivers, noting: "The cost of this CCTV equipment has to be borne by the drivers. You can’t just install the cheapest system, you’ve got to go with the one recommended by the council."
He also pointed out that taxis are often used as private vehicles, raising privacy issues if cameras were mandated to be on continuously.
While acknowledging existing rigorous safety checks for licensed drivers, Carter suggested a different approach for CCTV implementation: "If it was to be worked a bit differently where a council took the cost and allowed drivers more flexibility about when the CCTV could be switched on or off, then it might be something the drivers would consider.
"It should be sold as benefiting the drivers as much as benefiting the public."
According to recent government figures, only a small fraction of UK authorities currently mandate CCTV in licensed vehicles. A mere 8% of authorities (21 out of 266) require CCTV in all licensed taxis, and only 7% have the same requirement for all licensed private hire vehicles.
Read another story
- GENEROUS LANCASTER CABBIE OFFERS FREE RIDES ON FINAL DAY BEFORE RETIREMENT
Anthony Wilson, who has served the community for over two decades with 848848 taxis, hung up his keys for the last time on Friday, May 30.
- CHICHESTER TAXI DRIVERS FACE ANOTHER FEE HIKE AS COUNCIL SEEKS TO BALANCE BOOKS
he move comes after a forecasted shortfall of £23,700 in the council's hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licensing budget.
- ALLEGED MID WALES FARE DODGER SKIPS COURT APPEARANCE
A man accused of failing to pay a nearly £100 taxi fare for a journey across Mid Wales did not appear in court on Tuesday 3 June, prompting magistrates to issue an arrest warrant.
- EAST DEVON TAXI FARE OVERHAUL HITS THE BRAKES AMIDST DRIVER APATHY
Plans to introduce a more precise method for calculating maximum taxi fares in East Devon have been stalled due to a dismal response rate from local hackney carriage drivers.
- SHEFFIELD TAXI DRIVERS HAIL VICTORY AS EMR DROPS PERMIT CUTS AMID GRIDLOCK ROW
The decision marks a victory for cabbies who had been vocal in their opposition, even resorting to a payment strike last year.
- WARRINGTON MUMS BUS LANE NIGHTMARE CABBIE REGISTERS VEHICLE AT HER ADDRESS RACKING UP £770 IN FINES
Anna Brunskill, 49, received 11 penalty notices, nine of which arrived on the same day, despite having no connection to the vehicle or its driver.
- POLICE URGE WREXHAM PUBLIC TO USE LICENSED TAXIS AFTER "UNAUTHORISED" VEHICLE REPORT
North Wales Police have issued a stark warning to the public in Wrexham, advising them to exercise caution when choosing taxis after a report of an "unauthorised taxi" operating in the city.
- MANCHESTER'S MANTAX BLACK CABS REBRAND AS COMCAB MANCHESTER JOINING NATIONAL NETWORK
The largest hackney carriage fleet in Manchester, will continue to provide a safe and reliable service across the city, provided by drivers with unrivalled regional knowledge.
- FREENOW APP LAUNCHES IN COVENTRY A QUICK AND EASY WAY TO BOOK A TAXI
In partnership with Lewis Taxis, a trusted local company serving the area for 50 years, FREENOW is now offering a quick and easy way for locals and visitors to book taxis in the city.
- GRANGEMOUTH'S KERSE CABS HONOURED WITH JIMMY AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Kerse Cabs earned the accolade for consistently going "the extra mile" for local residents.
- DENBIGHSHIRE COUNCIL FACES LEGAL RISK AFTER RELAXING TAXI AGE RULES FOR WAVS
The decision, made at a committee meeting on June 3, followed a consultation with around 300 hackney carriage drivers and private hire vehicle licence holders.
- TAXI BOSS SLAMS MISGUIDED BLAME IN GLASGOW NIGHTLIFE DECLINE ROW
Glasgow's premier taxi operator has strongly refuted claims that a lack of available cabs is crippling the city's night-time economy, instead pointing to wider issues and behavioural shifts as the real culprits.
- INVESTIGATION INTO UNPAID SWINDON TAXI FARE CONTINUES
Police have released an image of two women they would like to speak to regarding an ongoing investigation.
- TRAFFORD CENTRE STING MEANS UNINSURED PH DRIVER TO PAY OVER £1,200 FOR ILLEGAL PLYING
Anees Arif, 52, of Lees, Oldham, pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including illegally waiting in a hackney carriage rank and accepting an uninsured fare.
- 120 BURY DRIVERS FACE IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION OVER UNCHECKED CRIMINAL RECORDS
This drastic measure comes after numerous attempts by the local authority to get drivers to agree to register for the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) update service.
- THE KNOWLEDGE TEST MAY BE AXED FOR BRISTOL LICENSED PRIVATE HIRE DRIVERS
First introduced in 1865, the 90-minute Knowledge test requires drivers to learn thousands of routes across the city but a report states that just eight of the 133 people who took the test this year had passed.
- TWO DRUNK PASSENGERS WERE ABANDONED BY THE SIDE OF A MOTORWAY FOR BEING SICK IN CAR
Thames Valley Police said the inebraiated two were dumped in a refuge bay on the M4 near Reading in the early hours of Sunday after a night out.
- MIDDLESBROUGH PH DRIVER LOSES LICENCE AMIDST "THROAT GRAB" CLAIM AND "SEXUAL VIOLENCE" THREATS
The decision to revoke his licence stems from what councillors deemed "abusive and threatening" messages, including a "serious threat of sexual violence," exchanged with a female passenger.
- UBER BUYS DENMARK'S LARGEST TAXI COMPANY, EXPANDING REACH ACROSS THE NATION
The deal, confirmed by Uber in a statement, will integrate Dantaxi's 3,500 drivers across 75 municipalities into the Uber app, significantly expanding the platform's reach beyond Copenhagen.
- UK FLYING TAXI MAKES HISTORY WITH CROSS COUNTRY ELECTRIC FLIGHT
Vertical Aerospace, a Bristol-based pioneer in electric flying taxis, has made European aviation history with the successful piloted "wingborne" flight of its VX4 prototype across the UK countryside.
