Cabbies praise town's CCTV scheme

Taxi drivers in Mansfield say a new CCTV scheme has had an "almost miraculous" effect on drunk or violent passengers.

The cameras were installed in 16 taxis last month as part of a pioneering safety initiative.

Images from the cameras are downloaded and monitored by operators at Mansfield District Council.

Cab drivers now say they just have to point out the camera to passengers to curb any bad behaviour.

First in region

Mansfield taxi drivers were the first in the East Midlands to have the specialist Autocam software installed.

The cameras are part funded by Nottinghamshire County Council's Local Transport Plan and the Mansfield Partnership Against Crime group, with vehicle owners or companies paying half of the £150 cost.

Councillor Barry Dawson, chairman of licensing at Mansfield District Council, said: "We had started to see the numbers of taxi drivers working at the evenings and over the weekend falling, so we asked what we could do to help.

"They felt a system similar to the ones used on the late night buses would work for them, so we investigated the possibility and came up with this one which displays images of the entire cab.

"We hope that it will eventually be taken up by all taxi drivers."