Debate held on CCTV taxi cameras

The cameras would be installed in hackney and private vehicles

Taxis operating in Gateshead could soon have CCTV cameras installed to give drivers added protection.

Councillors will have to decide whether cameras would infringe passengers' rights while weighing up if they could protect drivers from assaults.

Gateshead Hackney Drivers Association believes the devices would reduce the number of assaults on drivers.

Gateshead Council's Regulatory Committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss the proposals.

The cameras would also protect passengers from assault and make it easier to catch customers who leave vehicles without pay, the Hackney Association said.

Strict code

A spokesman for Gateshead Council said: "Although technically feasible, councillors will need to decide whether the protection offered to drivers and passengers by cameras can be balanced against the potential infringement of passengers' civil liberties.

"They will be having their activities recorded while in the vehicle - which is in effect a private environment once it has been hired.

"Councillors will be asked to approve the proposal providing a strict code of practice is adopted to ensure that the recording device is not capable of being tampered with or its footage accessed by anyone other than a police officer."

The cameras would be installed in Gateshead's hackney and private hire vehicles.