New CCTV grants for cab drivers

IMPROVING SAFETY: Councillor Annesa Akbar. Picture by Neil Holmes Photography

Grants of up to £500 are being offered to install CCTV in black cabs to help protect drivers and customers.

Hull City Council is providing the funding for all licensed hackney carriage drivers in the city.

The grants are available now and have been introduced to help improve safety and reassurance.

Funding has been accessed through the Government Additional Restrictions Grant scheme and the grants are part of the council’s Covid-19 response to support economic recovery from the pandemic.

Councillor Aneesa Akbar, Portfolio Holder for Communities, said: “The night-time economy of the city continues to be negatively impacted by the pandemic.

“The introduction of CCTV systems in hackney carriages will help to provide higher levels of safety and security for drivers and customers."

The initiative will be reviewed after a period of operation and subject to demand, feedback and the availability of funding, consideration will be given to widening eligibility to include licensed private hire vehicles.

The scheme is not compulsory and proprietors in Hull are invited to apply for the funding on a voluntary basis.

Drivers can apply for a grant here: https://www.hull.gov.uk/business/business-grants-and-funding/hackney-carriage-cctv-scheme