TAXIS in a Hampshire town are having security cameras installed in a bid to cut down on crime.

The Gosport Community Safety Partnership has secured government funding to enable Hackney Carriage Taxis Operators in Gosport to install 'TaxiCam' Digital Security camera systems.

The bid and the installation programme, which has been led by Tom Dagens, principal environmental health officer for the council, has been fully supported by Gosport police.

Mr Dagens said: "The response from drivers has been overwhelming, with almost 50 per cent of Gosport Hackney Carriage Taxis now being equipped with this latest digital, state of the art, security camera technology."

"The 'TaxiCam' system promotes an increased level of confidence of safety for people using taxis late at night."