Cabbies 'ecstatic' after mandatory CCTV rejected

Cabbies say they are "relieved" mandatory CCTV cameras will not be introduced for taxis despite it being considered for the safety of passengers and drivers.

Peterborough City Council overwhelmingly voted against introducing the cameras, arguing drivers might simply register their cars in other districts.

The proposed scheme proved unpopular with drivers, with nearly 90% opposing it when surveyed by the council.

Peterborough Private Hire Association chairman Nawaab Imran Khan said members "welcome the council's decision and feel ecstatic".

More than 100 operators and 1,800 taxi drivers across Peterborough would have had to implement the rules within18 months.

The policy was first recommended in 2022 and the council subsequently carried out a consultation a year ago.

It received more than 600 responses, including 288 from people in the trade.

In September, the council's licensing committee voted to make cameras mandatory.

Ali Haider, from the drivers' association, called it an "intrusion of privacy" that would cause "a financial burden" to drivers.

The final decision was recommended to be put to a full council vote, which has now taken place.

Some 37 councillors voted against introducing the cameras, eight voted in favour and nine abstained.

In the meeting, most councillors said the rules should only be implemented in Peterborough if there was a level playing field across the rest of the country.

There was a claim drivers could register their cars in neighbouring local authorities, which did not insist on CCTV, and could still operate in Peterborough but without the city council's oversight.

Mr Khan said "cross-border issues was a big concern" and his association felt it was a "big victory".

"This is a huge relief for us. Of course there is the voluntary CCTV option for drivers," he said.

Labour councillor Zameer Ali, who is also a taxi operator but was not allowed to vote, said: "We didn't expect the level and volume of support we got.

"Hopefully the [drivers' association] can work with the council's licensing authority and move forward and improve the trade."

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