CCTV rollout begins in Barnsley Hackney carriages following council approval
- Perry Richardson
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
CCTV will become a standard feature in all Barnsley-licensed Hackney carriages starting this month, following a decision by Barnsley Council. The move is aimed at improving safety for both passengers and drivers, particularly during late-night hours.
The plan, backed by a £173,500 grant from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, forms part of a wider pilot scheme to improve the availability of taxis during less desirable shifts. The measure was approved by the Council’s Cabinet in March and will be discussed further by the General Licensing Regulatory Board on 16 April.
Under the new policy, all Hackney carriage vehicles must have an approved CCTV system installed and operational whenever the vehicle is in use. The council has set specific conditions for installation, maintenance and signage, and will appoint a single supplier through a formal tender process.
Although the council will fund the initial purchase and installation, ownership and upkeep of the systems will remain with the licensed vehicle proprietors. The local authority will, however, act as the data controller and be responsible for footage management.
A public consultation on the policy ran for ten weeks and showed strong support, with 23 out of 26 respondents backing the mandatory requirement. One response initially neutral later confirmed support following clarification.
A review of the pilot’s impact will be carried out by April 2026 to assess its effectiveness in increasing safety and encouraging more drivers to operate during late hours.
