ACSS CABCAM: Should taxi drivers fear CCTV in their vehicles and what’s the future of CCTV in the trade?

CCTV is becoming increasingly prevalent in the taxi industry for several reasons. These range from helping to deter and record incidents such as assaults, to them simply becoming a mandatory licensing requirement.

We caught up with market specialist Divanshu Sarafa, who works for ACSS, a UK-based company specialising in safety and security solutions for commercial vehicle fleets such as taxis, to learn more.

For those in the industry that haven’t come across ACSS yet, what service do you prove to the taxi industry?

“ACSS can offer the UK taxi industry several key components around CCTV. This includes advice on the best and most cost-effective system meeting driver’s specific needs, assurance that any ACSS system will meet the local Authority’s requirements, and guidance on data handling & control, including ICO registration process.

“We also provide on-going technical support for either operating, maintaining or repairing the system. All recordings are encrypted to AES256 standard, the highest encryption level commercially available, as recommended by the ICO, and now required by Transport for London (TfL).”

How can internal CCTV protect a taxi driver’s job?

“Internal CCTV can be a crucial safeguard for taxi drivers, serving multiple protective functions that directly impact their job security. Firstly, it provides a clear, unbiased record of events inside the vehicle, which can be invaluable in resolving disputes. For instance, if a passenger makes a false accusation against a driver—whether it’s about overcharging, rudeness, or inappropriate behaviour—the recorded footage can provide concrete evidence to refute the claim. This not only helps in maintaining the driver's reputation but also protects them from unjust disciplinary actions, potentially saving their job.

“Moreover, internal CCTV can deter passengers from engaging in aggressive or inappropriate behaviour, knowing that their actions are being recorded. This preventive measure creates a safer working environment, reducing the likelihood of incidents that could lead to a driver being unfairly penalised or even dismissed. In cases where incidents do occur, the footage can also be used to assist law enforcement, further protecting the driver from legal liabilities.”

A cabbie’s biggest worry around CCTV is usually around data ownership. Should they be concerned and how does it work?

“Data ownership is indeed a valid concern for cabbies, but with the. right setup, these worries can be effectively mitigated. The key to understanding this lies in how the data is managed and protected. The recordings are stored directly in the vehicle, specifically in a Mobile Digital Video Recorder (MDVR) placed in the boot of the vehicle.

“This setup offers a couple of significant advantages. First, because the data is stored locally within the vehicle, the cabbie retains control over it. There’s no third-party cloud storage where the footage could potentially be accessed or misused by others. This local storage setup ensures that the cabbie knows exactly where the data is and who has access to it. Moreover, the recordings are protected by AES256 encryption, the most secure encryption standard commercially available today. This means that even if someone were to physically access the MDVR, they wouldn’t be able to view the recordings without the appropriate decryption key. The key is an additional layer of security that further ensures that the data remains private and under the control of the cabbie.”

Can you see more local authorities making CCTV mandatory in the years ahead?

“Absolutely. Concerns about either Privacy Laws or the perceived burden of becoming the data controller, have led some local Authorities not to make CCTV mandatory in Taxis. Many are now realising, however, that. these concerns can be relatively easily managed as the experience of early adopters demonstrate and that the benefits far outweigh any risks or burden.”