CCTV could become compulsory in all Wealden licensed taxis under council consultation
- Perry Richardson
- Apr 3
- 1 min read
Wealden District Council is consulting on whether CCTV should be made compulsory in all taxis and private hire vehicles licensed in the area.
The proposal is part of a review aligned with Government statutory guidance. The council says the move could enhance passenger and driver safety, assist police investigations, and align with wider public expectations, given the use of CCTV in other public settings.
Public safety is seen as a central consideration in the consultation. Feedback from earlier discussions indicated that some passengers and drivers feel safer with cameras present inside vehicles.
Police have also backed the potential introduction, saying footage could help resolve incidents or complaints relating to behaviour inside vehicles.
Any footage captured would be tightly controlled. Only the local authority, police or relevant enforcement bodies would be allowed to view it. Drivers and vehicle owners would not be given access. Individuals may request access through a subject access request, but other passengers’ identities would remain protected.
Recordings would be kept for around 30 days and then automatically deleted, unless needed for investigation. These details will be finalised once any policy is introduced.
Privacy concerns have been acknowledged. The system would only allow footage to be accessed in response to a reported incident. Data protection rules would apply to all cases of access and review.
The council is inviting comments from the public, taxi users, drivers, and stakeholders before a final decision is made. The consultation remains open until 16 May 2025.
