GRAVESHAM Borough Council has commissioned a report to look into future funding for CCTV in taxis.

Following the murder of taxi driver Gian Chand Bajar local cab drivers won £118,000 in EU funding to install security cameras into their vehicles.

But at a cabinet meeting on Monday, June 2 members expressed some concern about the provision of CCTV cameras once the initial funding had been depleted.

They also queried what arrangements had been made for the transfer of equipment if a driver were to cease trading or move to another area.

Cllr Harold Craske who was present at the meeting revealed the council was looking into strategies for long term provision.

He said: “We are hoping there will be some money left once drivers have their cameras. We are looking into long term provision.

“When a taxi driver moves somewhere else he will then 'sell back’ his CCTV so it can be used elsewhere.”

The scheme, which is one of the largest in the country, will see the majority of the borough’s 200 taxis in the area fitted with in-car cameras.

Taxi drivers will be expected to pay around £100 towards the £500 cost of the equipment.

Fitting out of the taxis should start in late June and be completed by the end of August this year.