British taxis to have spy cameras

Nov 16, 2011 |

IANS

London

Tags:

Britain

Taxis in the famous British university town of Oxford will now be fitted with spy cameras to record images of passengers.

A total of 652 taxis licensed in the city are to be fitted with CCTV cameras, the Daily Express said.

The city council said the move was in response to an increase in complaints against both cab drivers and passengers. The complaints include over-charging, sexual assaults and attacks on drivers.

"This is an incredible invasion of privacy. Oxford city council has thrown civil liberties out of the window," said Nick Pickles, director of civil liberties group Big Brother Watch.

A council spokeswoman said: "Oxford city council considers the risk of intrusion is acceptable compared to the public safety benefits. In any event, the level of privacy in a licensed vehicle is far lower than that in one's own car."

All taxis must have the equipment installed from April next year.

Oxford, which lies about 80 km north-west of London, has a population of around 165,000.

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