BARNSLEY TAXI CCTV SCHEME SET FOR EXPANSION AFTER SURGE IN SAFETY AND NIGHT SHIFTS

Plans to expand a successful CCTV scheme to dozens more licensed vehicles in Barnsley will be discussed by councillors at a licensing meeting this week.

Following a highly successful pilot programme that installed cameras in all hackney carriages, council bosses are now looking to roll out the security systems to an additional 50 private hire vehicles.

The original pilot scheme was funded through the Transport Innovation Fund, and leftover money was initially used to offer CCTV to private hire vehicles holding home-to-school transport contracts with the local authority.

Following that initial rollout, the council's Strategic Transport team has secured extra funding to expand the project even further.

Officials have hailed the scheme as a major success, noting that 90 per cent of the public surveyed during a consultation reported feeling safer.

The cameras have also given taxi drivers the confidence to return to late-night work. The number of drivers willing to work Saturday night shifts has surged dramatically, rising from just 16 per cent in 2023 to 45 per cent today, which has also successfully driven down passenger waiting times.

An official report to be reviewed by councillors outlines the multiple benefits of the project, stating: "The main aim of the CCTV is to increase both driver and passenger safety and encourage more drivers to work at unsociable times."

The report notes that the cameras support drivers so they do "not avoid the more difficult customers," adding that "all drivers experience similar concerns regarding dealing with challenging behaviours from some passengers in their vehicles."

Ultimately, officials concluded that having CCTV in vehicles has "enhanced safeguarding protocols and contributed to enhancing protection for passengers and drivers."

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