Wolverhampton Council reviews taxi CCTV policy with focus on audio recording
Wolverhampton Council is considering significant updates to its taxi surveillance regulations. At the heart of these changes lies a proposal to enhance driver safety by enabling audio recording in licensed vehicles, a shift from the current restrictions.
While the use of CCTV has long been allowed in Wolverhampton’s taxis, recording conversations has remained off-limits due to privacy concerns.
However, a series of violent incidents resulting in the deaths of several taxi drivers has prompted calls to revisit this policy. The Council aims to strike a balance between privacy and safety, proposing an option for audio recording that is activated only when necessary.
Under the draft policy, taxi proprietors who opt to install surveillance systems can have a panic switch that initiates audio recording. This feature would be available to both drivers and passengers, ensuring that audio capture is purposeful rather than continuous. Once activated, audio and video data will be synchronised, encrypted, and embedded within the same file to maintain its integrity. When deactivated, audio recording must stop within one minute, with visual indicators making the status clear to all occupants.
Those in favour argue that this step could deter aggression and assist in resolving disputes or complaints more effectively. However, privacy groups are likely to scrutinise the plan closely. The Council will run a six-week consultation to gauge public and industry feedback before any policy is implemented.
For now, taxi proprietors remain bound to existing requirements. Any installed CCTV must comply with data protection laws and be registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. Signage is mandatory to inform passengers about surveillance, while footage must be securely stored, only accessible in cases where there is a lawful basis, such as a formal police request or a substantiated complaint.
As the Council deliberates, all eyes will be on the consultation to see if this policy can balance the twin priorities of privacy and safety effectively.
