TAXIS in Burnley could soon have CCTV fitted in a scheme aimed at improving the safety and security for drivers.

The scheme, similar to a pilot project which currently operates successfully in Bolton, is in response to a recommendation by the task force which looked into the Burnley riots.

A bid has been made to the government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund for £100,000 to cover the capital cost and initial monitoring fees for the scheme and it looks likely the bid will be approved.

There are 32 Hackney carriages in Burnley and around 300 private hire vehicles and it is believed that an attack on a taxi driver was one of the incidents which sparked last summer's disturbances.

So far 28 of the Hackney carriage owners have expressed an interest, but the private hire association has not yet declared how many of their members will be involved.

Coun Charles Bullas, Burnley Council's executive member for public protection and community safety said: "The cameras cost about £1,300 so obviously we cannot equip every vehicle.

"The grant will pay for installation and running costs for three years. Drivers will be expected to contribute £10 a week on a lease purchase arrangement for three years."

Community safety co-ordinator Melva Burton said: "We had a meeting of the private hire association and the Hackney carriage owners to discuss safety issues and we came up with the scheme based on a system which has been piloted in Bolton.

"There seems to be a growing problem which is arising out of the people coming out of the town centre fuelled by alcohol and causing problems to taxi drivers.

"If there is an incident the cameras will automatically start recording and there is a panic button for the drivers which will go to a call centre which has a direct link with the police."

She said a representative from Bolton visited Burnley to show council officers and taxi drivers and owners the scheme and the feedback was very positive.

Melva said: "People who use the cabs normally should not be concerned that they are going to be filmed because recording will only start if there is an incident.

"I would expect the project to be taken up by both private hire and Hackney cabs."

The equipment cost will be covered by the grant, and it is hoped once the initial monitoring fees have been covered the taxi owners will then take over the cost of monitoring so the scheme will not incur any cost to the council.

The footage will be monitored at a national centre run by security firm Chubb, or another associated company, which purely monitors CCTV systems in cabs so will not impact on the monitoring station at Burnley for the town centre cameras.