CCTV set to become mandatory for Barnsley licensed taxis
Barnsley’s General Licensing Regulatory Board has outlined plans for a significant policy shift across its Hackney Carriage fleet.
By April 2025, all 67 licensed Hackney Carriages in Barnsley are expected to be fitted with in-car CCTV systems. This move follows funding secured from the Transport Innovation Fund and a pilot scheme set to begin early next year.
The CCTV systems will record inside vehicles with the aim of enhancing safety for both passengers and drivers. The council hopes this measure will deter criminal activity, support drivers in managing challenging customers, and encourage more operators to work during unsociable hours. The systems are designed to meet legal standards, with footage potentially admissible in court proceedings.
Signage in vehicles will notify passengers of the surveillance, and audio recording may also be included, pending data protection approvals.
Public consultation on the updated Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy, which includes these changes, begins on 25 October 2024 and runs until 3 January 2025. Views from drivers, operators, and the public will feed into the final policy, to be reviewed in February 2025.
