Mandatory CCTV taxi policy in Swindon delayed by a year due to lack of staff

Swindon Borough Council are delaying a new mandatory CCTV policy in taxis by a year due to lack of staffing levels.

Earlier this year the council agreed to adopt a mandatory CCTV policy in regards to all Private Hire and Hackney Carriage vehicles licensed by Swindon Borough Council.

Licensing officers had planned to bring in the implementation policy for both new and existing licensed vehicles on 1 April 2023.

However, a spate of resignations have forced the council to delay the process by a year.

In a council licensing committee report it says: “In recent weeks, three licensing officers have resigned from the council - this equates to 2.6 full-time equivalents from a total of 3.6 full-time equivalents.

“Due to the council’s current financial situation, the service has the approval to recruit two full-time officers and this recruitment is in progress.

“It means that there is currently insufficient resource available to progress the delivery of CCTV in taxis at this time. It is hoped that the council’s financial position will improve, but for the time being the implementation timetable has been adjusted to reflect this situation.”