|
Tenders called for taxi security cameras |
|
Queensland
will call this month for tenders for the installation of security
cameras in the state's 2,700 taxis operating in major urban areas in a bid
to improve driver and passenger safety.
Premier Peter Beattie, who announced the
security camera
initiative in October last year, said tenders would be called by the end of March
with the first cameras, which cost around $2,500 each, expected to be installed
by June. "This is about public safety and the safety of drivers. The reality is
that when these cameras come in our taxi drivers will be safer and the people
travelling in them will be safer because we will have evidence," Mr Beattie said.
Transport Minister Paul Lucas said security
cameras in taxis had already had a dramatic impact on the number of violent
incidents interstate. A 2003 Taxi Council of Queensland survey found fare evasion
accounted for 40 per cent of taxi-crime incidents reported to the police. Physical
and verbal assaults made up 48 per cent, eight per cent related to robberies and
vehicle damage accounted for four per cent. All taxis operating in centres with
a population of 40,000 or more would be required to have security
cameras fitted and strict guidelines for the operation of the cameras, including
the protection of privacy, were being finalised. from news
9 |
