Sussex bus company accused of 'Big Brother' style audio recordings
A union's threatened strike action unless warnings are put in place on vehicles
A union has threatened strike action at a Sussex bus company over claims it is spying on customers.
The Unite union has claimed that audio recording equipment installed on Brighton and Hove Buses services is secretly recording conversation from passengers and drivers in a breach of data protection laws.
The firm, which is part of the Go-Ahead Group, said that the recordings were only made as part of a trial at their Newhaven depot, in a bid to preserve evidence in cases where drivers were subjected to verbal abuse.
What have Unite said?
They have claimed that the devices are also able to hear and record the conversations of passengers in areas close to the cab.
The union has claimed that they were installed without their knowledge, and that drivers have been left unaware of how recordings are stored or who has access to them.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:
"It is outrageous Big Brother-style behaviour from the bus company, who are secretly recording drivers and their passengers without warning.
“Such is the depth of anger over this our members are now discussing potential industrial action as the bus company has refused to discuss matters reasonably. Unite will be backing their cause 100 per cent of the way."
Unite, on behalf of its members working as drivers for the bus company, have made a formal complaint to the Information Commissioners Office after its attempts to discuss the matter with Brighton and Hove bus company were ignored.
It is also now asking over 1,000 members at the bus company to take part in a consultative ballot on potential industrial action over the matter, claiming it has created 'strong ill-feeling' among drivers.
Unite regional officer Janet Nobbs said:
“It is outrageous that Brighton and Hove buses have begun recording not only our members' but also passengers' conversations without their knowledge or consent.
"There are no warning signs on the buses and I think most of the public would be appalled to know that bus company executives could have access to private conversations.
"The bus company needs to explain itself - not just to Unite and the Brighton public but to the ICO as well."
How have Brighton and Hove Buses responded?
Ed Wills, managing director of Brighton and Hove Buses, said:
"For the safety of our passengers and drivers, CCTV is recorded on all buses and has been in place for many years.
"Currently on Brighton & Hove Buses we do not use audio recording even though many transport operators do this as standard including other operators in the Brighton area, where audio is recorded at the entry point of the vehicle only.
“The trial at our Newhaven depot took place in conjunction with our trade union to ensure the system worked.
"The safety and support of our colleagues is our priority and audio helps to remove any ambiguity if video footage ever needs to be viewed.
"If and when this is implemented, signage will be updated in advance of the system being used."