Chauffeurs set to be exempt from filming (From Oxford Mail)

Chauffeurs set to be exempt from filming

10:30am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Oxford

CHAUFFEURS are set to be exempted from the controversial camera ruling following concerns from drivers.

Firms said the security measures are not needed as they have a list of known clients.

A city council report said “lucrative contracts may be lost” and no complaints had been made over the city’s 37 chauffeur licences.

Nathan Thomas, who runs Headington’s Hilltop Chauffeurs, said: “I’m private hire but I’m not like your Saturday night taxi.

“One hundred per cent of our clients are account customers, it is all corporate.”

He said: “My clients say they wouldn’t get in my car if they have cameras in them.”

The rules would still affect 521 private-hire vehicles, which can only be pre-booked and 107 Hackney Carriages, which can be flagged down.

Nick Pickles, director of privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: “The message from Oxford council seems to be people with chauffeur-driven cars are entitled to privacy but ordinary folk using taxis are not.”

He said: “Forget tinkering around the edges, the whole policy should be scrapped.”

The council’s general purposes licensing committee is expected to approve the exemption on Wednesday, February 22.

Committee chairman Clark Brundin said of chauffeurs: “The passengers and drivers are known in advance so the kind of reasons that need the audio visual recording equipment for security purposes are not there.”