
A recent Barnsley Council consultation showed a majority of respondents backed proposals to expand the use of CCTV to private hire vehicles used for home-to-school transport.
The council received ten responses to the six-week consultation, held from September 5 to October 17. Six were in favour, three were opposed, and one became supportive after clarification.
The proposal, which will be discussed by the General Licensing Regulatory Board on October 29, plans to use surplus funds from an earlier pilot scheme to fit CCTV in all of Barnsley’s hackney carriages, which was funded through the Transport Innovation Fund. The pilot aimed to improve passenger and driver safety, particularly during unsociable hours.
The council states this is intended to "help safeguard children and support drivers who sometimes face challenging behaviour from passengers."
Under the new proposals, surplus funds from that scheme would be used to fit CCTV systems in private hire vehicles contracted for school transport. The council will provide the systems, but ownership will transfer to the vehicle proprietors upon installation, although the council will remain the data controller and responsible for footage collected.
All participating vehicles would need to display warning signs and ensure proper maintenance. Drivers would also have to confirm the equipment is working at the start of each shift and report any issues immediately.
Concerns raised included the quality of earlier installations in hackney carriages, as well as "practical issues such as vehicle swapping, parental consent, and data protection."
One respondent urged the council to “carefully consider the practicalities of vehicle swaps and the importance of parental consultation”.
The council addressed installation quality concerns by stating the original installers had been removed and a statement of reassurance from supplier ACSS has since been provided to licensed drivers.
Members of the licensing board are now being asked to consider the consultation responses and recommend the proposed amendments to the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy for Cabinet approval.

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