Perth to be first city in World to have security cameras fitted in all taxis

2/7/97

Transport Minister Eric Charlton said today Perth would become the first capital city in the world to have its entire taxi fleet fitted with security cameras in a $1 million State Government-backed initiative to improve taxi driver safety.

Installation of security cameras was the major recommendation from the Taxi Safety Summit held in Perth last year after a series of unprecedented assaults on taxi drivers in the metropolitan area.

Mr Charlton said the summit, which involved Government and taxi industry representatives, was the first of its kind to be held in Australia.

"Security cameras are an integral part of our program to improve the safety of WA's taxi drivers to ensure we have an industry of the highest quality which attracts the very best operators," Mr Charlton said.

"This is all about doing our part to help the police catch criminals and stop crime in our community, particularly crimes against taxi drivers.

"If drivers feel safer, we believe it will encourage them to fully meet the requirements of Perth's travelling public."

The new cameras used the latest in digital technology to record clear pictures of the cab interior, even at night. The equipment for Perth's 1,026 cabs was being purpose-built for the WA Taxi Industry by Australian company Raywood Communications following extensive trials in Perth.

The cameras would be compulsory for all Perth cabs.

Mr Charlton said taxi drivers would not have direct access to the images which included the time and date of the recording as well as the number of the taxi. Pictures would be down-loaded only by authorised personnel who would decode the encrypted information with special software which ensured images or information could not be altered.

He said images would be used by police to identify people involved in any crimes against taxi drivers, including assaults and fare evasion.

Mr Charlton said the tamper-proof nature of the information would allow it to be used as evidence when an offender was caught and brought before the courts.

The State Government, through the Taxi Industry Development Fund, would pay $1,000 towards the cost of each camera, which represents about two-thirds of the total cost of each device.

The devices were currently being manufactured and installation would start from September, when 100 cars a week would be fitted with cameras. It was planned for the whole fleet to be equipped by Christmas.

Security cameras were not the only driver safety initiative to come from the summit or other areas of the taxi industry. During the past year major developments in the taxi industry have included:

·      an advertising campaign to encourage pre-payment of fares;

·      improved taxi driver training;

·      launching the cabAlert program, which encourages taxi drivers to report crimes or suspicions by using a special police telephone line dedicated to taxi drivers;

·      development of an industry code of practice; and -

·      improving security at taxi ranks.

Media contact: Doug Cunningham (08) 9321 7333 or

Rob Leicester, Taxi Unit Manager,(09) 9389 0611