by Nicola Jordan

Medway cabbies are being urged to get CCTV installed in the wake of the growing number of attacks on drivers.

The plea issued by Medway Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association comes after a young woman, who was raped by a cabbie, warned of the dangers of getting into an unlicensed vehicle.

MLTDA secretary Jim Smart said: "It’s happened in the past, it’s happened recently in the news headlines and it will happen again in the future. Attacks against drivers are not going away. It’s not just for their safety but also for the safety of their customers."

The call for tighter safety measures began in 2009 after a driver, Gian Chand Bajar, was murdered in Gravesend.

At the time Medway Council refused to help fund CCTV and some of Medway’s 700 drivers threatened to take the case to the European parliament. But, after seeking legal advice, they decided it would be too costly.

Now the MLTDA has found a company which will install cameras at a price of £300 a car.

Mr Smart said: "The response so far has been favourable. In the past we have been given much higher quotes. We do get the ‘well times are hard’ feedback, but this would seem a reasonable deal – especially as taxi drivers are so vulnerable.

"Even the police say they wouldn’t want to do our job because at least they have back-up."

The agreement with the Leicestershire-based firm has been approved by Medway Council which is in charge of licensing the Towns taxi fleets.

Cllr Mike O’Brien, who is in charge of community safety, said: "Medway Council has no current policy in place to install CCTV in taxis.

"I welcome and support the Medway taxi drivers’ initiative to install CCTV to protect their own safety and that of their customers, provided they follow all appropriate regulations and ensure customers are aware that CCTV has been installed in their vehicle."