Wolverhampton Taxi drivers could receive new powers to record audio

Following a spate of attacks against drivers in recent years, including the manslaughter of a driver in 2022, Wolverhampton City Council have proposed plans to allow drivers who feel threatened to be able to use a panic style button to momentarily start recording audio.

While taxi drivers in Wolverhampton are permitted to install CCTV cameras in their vehicles, they cannot continuously record audio as it was previously seen by the Council to be highly intrusive to people’s rights.

City of Wolverhampton Council recently installed a panic switch in one taxi as part of a pilot scheme.

A final decision on whether this measure will become a permanent fixture in Wolverhampton taxis is not expected to be made until 2025.