ADT Fire and Security, Kirklees Metropolitan Council and West Yorkshire Police have joined forces to improve safety for drivers in taxi fleets.

The pilot scheme, so far running in six cabs, has introduced new camera technology, acting as a visual deterrent and providing a means of identification and prosecution of criminals.

It has proved so successful that nearly 100 more local drivers have shown an interest in getting cameras in their vehicles.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, taxi and private hire car drivers suffer one of the highest rates of non-fatal assaults, next only to police and private security guards.

Robert Pogson, field sales manager for ADT, said: 'The FareView digital camera is mounted on the car windscreen, under the rearview mirror and has a wide angle lens, allowing it to view passengers in the front and back of the cab. The camera is also infrared, so that it can see in the dark.'