Posted on the 25th June 2026 in PHTM News

DONCASTER CABBIES DIVIDED OVER PLANS FOR MANDATORY IN CAR CCTV SYSTEMS

Taxi drivers in Doncaster are deeply divided over proposals by the local authority to make CCTV systems mandatory for all licensed hackney carriages and private hire vehicles.

A recent 12-week consultation revealed that 40 per cent of drivers oppose the requirement, slightly outnumbering the 32 per cent who support it.

While the City of Doncaster Council’s licensing committee is set to decide on several other policy changes on June 25, 2026, a final decision on the CCTV mandate has been deferred for future consideration.

The primary concern among drivers is the financial impact of the equipment.

A council summary of the trade's feedback noted: “Many drivers highlighted that the proposed systems, often described as costing £500 – £1,000, represent a substantial financial burden, especially against the backdrop of rising operating costs, cost-of-living pressures, and depressed earnings resulting from increased competition from out-of-area drivers.”

In stark contrast to the drivers, the public strongly backs the measure, with around 85 per cent of resident responses agreeing that cameras should be compulsory.

The push for increased security comes amid widespread reports of negative experiences from both sides. Among the drivers surveyed, 173 reported passengers fleeing without paying, and 125 said they had faced “abusive or inappropriate words or actions” from customers.

Meanwhile, 61 passengers reported being subjected to abuse by drivers, and 81 claimed drivers had demanded extra payments.

Despite the disagreement over costs, the vast majority of both the public and the taxi trade agreed that installing CCTV would help prevent, deter, or identify the perpetrators of these issues.


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