| Protecting children (and others) in taxis (and other modes of transport) Posted by grahame at 10:42, 15th January 2026 |     |
from the BBC
Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood has told MPs she is open to including mandatory CCTV in new national guidelines for taxis.
The government's review of taxi licensing in England follows Baroness Casey's report on grooming gangs, which identified taxis being used by offenders across the country and recommended tougher rules.
At the moment, taxi drivers can buy a private hire vehicle licence from one council but work as far away as they like, taking advantage of lower standards, cheaper licences, and a lack of enforcement.
This allows them to get around tough rules aimed at protecting children, such as Rotherham's gold standard licensing scheme, which includes CCTV in cabs.
Speaking to the Commons Transport Committee, Greenwood said she did not want to "demonise the trade" but MPs could not be "complacent" about the urgent need to strengthen the law.
The government's review of taxi licensing in England follows Baroness Casey's report on grooming gangs, which identified taxis being used by offenders across the country and recommended tougher rules.
At the moment, taxi drivers can buy a private hire vehicle licence from one council but work as far away as they like, taking advantage of lower standards, cheaper licences, and a lack of enforcement.
This allows them to get around tough rules aimed at protecting children, such as Rotherham's gold standard licensing scheme, which includes CCTV in cabs.
Speaking to the Commons Transport Committee, Greenwood said she did not want to "demonise the trade" but MPs could not be "complacent" about the urgent need to strengthen the law.
I have widened the subject line to include other modes of transport, and other more vulnerable groups in addition to children. Thoughts??
| Re: Protecting children (and others) in taxis (and other modes of transport) Posted by ChrisB at 10:59, 15th January 2026 | |
Hmmm. To be effective, someone will need to be watching every stream in real time.
Otherwise 99% of it is never going to be watched, so a tad excessive to do it 'just in case'.
I don't know how you control the GDPR issue to storage limitations or your privacy option....
On balance, I'm against I think.
| Re: Protecting children (and others) in taxis (and other modes of transport) Posted by grahame at 12:28, 15th January 2026 | |
Hmmm. To be effective, someone will need to be watching every stream in real time.
Otherwise 99% of it is never going to be watched, so a tad excessive to do it 'just in case'.
I don't know how you control the GDPR issue to storage limitations or your privacy option....
On balance, I'm against I think.
Otherwise 99% of it is never going to be watched, so a tad excessive to do it 'just in case'.
I don't know how you control the GDPR issue to storage limitations or your privacy option....
On balance, I'm against I think.
I'm ... wondering if "AI" style intelligence could / would / should act as a filter, so that a small number of human operatives at central locations could be flagged up on situations that could turn into potential breaches - perhaps going live on the operative's main window with the lead-in that caused the particular taxi/bus/train carriage to be flagged up available for replay in a subsidiary window.
| Re: Protecting children (and others) in taxis (and other modes of transport) Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:38, 15th January 2026 | |
My personal view(s):
1. The CCTV recordings don't have to be watched by someone all day, every day: the recording will be available as evidence in court, if required.
2. A clear notice, next to cameras in taxis (other means of transport are available) that 'You are being recorded' should deter most potential offenders.
CfN. Image not available to guests
| Re: Protecting children (and others) in taxis (and other modes of transport) Posted by ChrisB at 17:47, 15th January 2026 | |
1. The CCTV recordings don't have to be watched by someone all day, every day: the recording will be available as evidence in court, if required.
2. A clear notice, next to cameras in taxis (other means of transport are available) that 'You are being recorded' should deter most potential offenders.
2. A clear notice, next to cameras in taxis (other means of transport are available) that 'You are being recorded' should deter most potential offenders.
That wold have been my choices too except for the GDPR problem - how do you secure all the millions of hours worth of CCTV each taxi records & collects - coz it'll not be centrally stored - who's paying for that? Frankly, it's unworkable
| Re: Protecting children (and others) in taxis (and other modes of transport) Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:21, 15th January 2026 | |
I'm not disagreeing with you, ChrisB: tell Lilian Greenwood! Image not available to guests
