I was shocked to read in your pages that the city council is to force local taxi drivers to install CCTV (with audio recording) into all of Oxford’s cabs and private hire vehicles.

It is to be only the second city to do so after Southampton.

This is a total and utter invasion of privacy, reminiscent of George Orwell’s Big Brother book.

From whispers of affection to confidential business conversations, private chats, addresses and phone numbers, everything said in the back seats of Oxford’s cabs and taxis will now be recorded.

Ostensibly, this is to protect taxi drivers. Yet most of them don’t seem to want it or need it.

There is already the option to video record (without sound) trouble-makers; which is surely sufficient.

This is not the first time our Labour-run council has sought to erode our liberties.

I last wrote to complain at the banning of spontaneous gatherings at Bonn Square (such as those which took place in protest at the war in Iraq and student fees).

But this is another small nail in the coffin of our human rights.

Craig Simmons, Candidate, St Mary's Ward, Green Party