CCTV cameras could installed in taxis in Rossendale to combat violent attacks and anti-social behaviour.

Rossendale Taxi Association have given their backing to a pilot scheme which would see two taxis kitted out with CCTV cameras for 12 weeks along with an advertising screen.

The scheme, which would costs £560 for each CCTV camera, would be used both to prevent violence and identify attackers.

Rossendale Council are now looking at acquiring funding for the scheme, which would be run by a private company called X-Tron.

The 10-inch advertising screens, which would help fund the supply and installation of the system, would sit between the drivers head rest and bulkhead of the Hackney carriage and display adverts approved by the council.

Bacup Private Hire driver Robert Back, of the Rossendale Taxi Association said: "Most of the drivers are for it and we would fix CCTV cameras tomorrow if it were not for the cost.

"It's a good way to get people to behave and it can be used to identify attackers in court.

"Our main reason for backing it is for the safety of the drivers. Just recently one driver was attacked and pushed out of the car.

"He had to have stitches and the CCTV would have backed him up when he made a statement against the lad."

X-tron have piloted a similar scheme in 13 taxis in Blackburn and Darwen to combat violent and racist attacks after crime figures revealed more than 140 crimes, including robberies, racist abuse, assault and criminal damage, had been recorded in the borough over a year.

A spokesperson for the council said: "The scheme would help tackle anti-social and violent behaviour against taxi drivers.

"Some drivers in the area have expressed an interest in getting further information about the scheme and the council is making enquiries about external sources of funding for it."

X-Tron have been invited to attend the next taxi liaison meeting, on November 6 in the Council Chamber, Hardman's Mill, to discuss the scheme with the drivers.

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