Taxis and private hire Installation of CCTV systems in Private Hire and Hackney Carriage vehicles policy

General Policy

1. This policy applies to private hire, non-standard private hire vehicles, Limousines and hackney carriage vehicles (referred to in this policy as “vehicles”).
2. The City Council will maintain a list of CCTV systems, which it has approved for installation in vehicles in accordance with this policy.  Any individual may apply for any system to be placed on the approved list, however only those systems which meet the Minimum System Specification [see below] would normally be approved.
3. With effect from 19 January 2009 vehicle proprietors may, upon application for a new licence or for renewal of a current licence, as part of that application, request to install in the vehicle a CCTV system which appears on the City Council’s approved list.
4. Upon successful application for installation, such vehicle licences will be subject to additional conditions to ensure that such CCTV systems are appropriately installed and maintained so as not to interfere with the safety and comfort of passengers, as well as ensuring the integrity of any images captured.
5. This policy details the minimum standards that will normally be expected to be met before a CCTV system will be placed on the City Council’s approved list.
6. This policy should be read in conjunction with the attached guidance notes, which outline the application procedure, to be followed by an individual or organisation who wishes to obtain approval for a CCTV system, as well as from proprietors who wish to install such systems in their vehicles.
7. Whilst each case will be determined on its own merits the Council will normally only place on its approved list CCTV systems which meet or exceed the Minimum Specification contained in this policy.

Minimum System Specification

The following are the minimum criteria that the City Council would normally expect a CCTV system to meet in order for the system to be placed on the list of CCTV systems approved to be installed in vehicles.

The system shall, as a minimum:

• Meet the current Information Commissioner data protection requirements.
• Be capable of date and time system identification stamping.
• Be capable of recording and storing images for a minimum period of seven days.
• Be capable of capturing images that, in low light conditions, must be of sufficient quality to enable identification of any person travelling in the vehicle and be of such quality that they can be used for prosecution purposes.
• Be capable of storing images in a manner, which prevents them being removed, downloaded or viewed by the driver or any other person travelling in the vehicle.
• Provide that images are only capable of being downloaded by a system administrator.
• Provide that images are digitally encrypted.  De-encryption software required to view the recorded images must be supplied to the Council free of charge before the system is installed in the vehicle.
• Provide that the hard disk or data card is not able to be accessed by the driver or any other person travelling in the vehicle.
• Provide that the data unit is stored separately from the camera(s) and out of view of person travelling in the vehicle.
• Provide that cameras are capable of being fitted in locations that do not affect the safety of any person travelling in the vehicle, and located as securely and discreetly as possible to avoid passengers travelling in the vehicle from tampering with them.
• Provide that, where the system uses a DVD recorder, the system is protected from shock.
• Ensure that the area recorded by the camera does not extend outside of the vehicle.
• Any system must be marked with the EMC [Electro Magnetic Certification], which signifies that it meets the European Industry Standard.