If you wish to install CCTV in your Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicles, you will need to have a system fitted by a third party specialist vehicle CCTV installer who offers a data controller service and thus they will be the only person able to access any recordings.
There is no Council requirement for CCTV to be installed in Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles but if it is fitted it must meet Wealden District Council licensed vehicle conditions and the specification guidelines. Please read our CCTV Specification and ensure your system complies. Licence conditions related to CCTV are included in Appendix A of the specification.
Approval in writing must be obtained from the Council before CCTV equipment is installed and used in the vehicle.
The CCTV equipment shall be of a type approved by the Council.
The equipment shall be installed, operated and maintained in a manner to the satisfaction of the Council.
The purpose of CCTV is to:
- Enhance the health and safety of licensed drivers and passengers
- Prevent and detect crime
- Reduce the fear or crime
For the purposes of the specification the term “CCTV system” will include any electronic camera/image/audio/recording device attached to the inside of vehicle having the technical capability of capturing and retaining visual images and audio recording from inside or external to the vehicle. In addition to the standard CCTV camera system these may include for example, such devices as outward facing incident/accident data recording devices.
Audio Recording
CCTV systems must not be used to record conversations between members of the public as this is highly intrusive and unlikely to be justified except in very exceptional circumstances. You must choose a system without this facility wherever possible; however, if the system comes equipped with sound recording facility then this functionality should be disabled.
Subject to licensing officer approval there are limited circumstances in which audio recording may be justified e.g. racial abuse, subject to the following safeguards: where recording is triggered due to a specific threat, e.g. a ‘panic button’ is utilised. Where this audio recording facility is utilised a reset function must be installed which automatically disables audio recording and returns the system to normal default operation after a specified time period has elapsed. The time period that audio recording may be active should be the minimum possible and should be declared at the time of submission for approval of the equipment.
Data Protection
The fundamental principles that need to be followed are quite clear. People must be informed about the information being collected about them with relevant use of privacy notices and signage where required. The information also needs to be kept secure, so that the information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands, and effective retention and disposal schedules must be in place to make sure information is only kept for as long as necessary before it is securely destroyed.