Taxi driver Robert Ives has launched a new CCTV-based cab security system to help combat the growing problem of violent passengers.
 
Mr Ives, 27, of Wibsey, Bradford, believes he has found a gap in the market and is looking to roll out the system to taxi drivers across Bradford and then expand into other cities.
 
His company, CabTure, provides adapted security cameras and video recorders for use in cabs, together with TV screens for the seat headrests which carry warnings and advertisements.
 
Taxi drivers are provided with the system for free with CabTure raising revenue through the advertisements. The intention is to deter violence and record incidents.
 
Mr Ives, who still drives part-time, came up with the idea whilst working for his father Ken’s firm Tong & Euro Private Hire, and suffering himself from violent behaviour by passengers.
 
He said: “Last year I had my vehicle damaged by a passenger who refused to pay a £5 fare and became aggressive. I asked him to get out of my car and as he got out he kicked the door so violently it needed to be completely replaced.
 
“I couldn’t give a detailed description of the man as it all happened very fast and I drove away to avoid being attacked myself. That meant I was unable to report the incident and he got away with causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage.
 
”Every time I read a news story about a taxi driver who’s been randomly attacked or even killed whilst at work, it reminds me how unsafe the industry can be. I looked on the internet for security cameras but the cost was too high. Then I remembered that the licensing conditions set by Bradford Council now allow drivers to fund CCTV through advertising.
 
”I worked on costs and realised that by combining CCTV with TV-based advertising there was the potential for a much bigger business venture and CabTure is the result.” Mr Ives had support from Kickstart, Bradford Council’s enterprise support programme, which provided a mentor and introduced him to the Business Enterprise Fund which loaned him £25,000 as start-up funding.
 
Michael Hudson, who also drives for Tong and Euro, was the first to have a CabTure system installed.
 
He said: “Passengers have been commenting about the camera. If it makes them think twice about misbehaving then it will be a big help to drivers. I think Robert will do very well out of it.”
 
Source: Keighley News