A new security system being developed in Gran Canaria will allow taxi panic buttons to connect directly with Local Police control rooms, giving officers live access to images and sound from inside vehicles during an emergency.

The Gran Canaria Cabildo is progressing with the system following a coordination meeting involving taxi cooperatives and Local Police forces across the island.

When a driver activates the emergency button, officers will be able to see and hear what is happening inside the taxi in real time, allowing them to assess the situation immediately and determine the appropriate response.

The system will also allow police control rooms to communicate directly with the interior of the taxi, adding another way for officers to respond during potentially dangerous incidents.

More than 1,100 taxis already have cameras

The project builds on the installation of security cameras in taxis across Gran Canaria.

So far, 1,160 taxis have been fitted with surveillance cameras through financial support provided by the Cabildo and administered through taxi cooperatives.

The existing cameras record footage onto cards incorporated into the equipment. These are sealed and subject to data-protection regulations.

Recordings are already regularly requested by police forces and courts when investigating possible crimes, with approximately two requests being made every day.

The new panic-button connection will take the system a significant step further by allowing police to access information as an incident is actually happening rather than relying solely on recorded footage afterwards.

Almost €500,000 in further funding

The Cabildo is also preparing another funding programme worth almost €500,000 to extend security equipment to more taxis.

The proposed subsidy will provide €450 per municipal taxi licence, with taxi cooperatives responsible for applying for the funding and distributing it among drivers.

The Cabildo has been supporting the installation of taxi surveillance systems for the past three years, including cooperatives serving Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, San Agustín-Maspalomas, Mogán, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, San Cristóbal and Telde.

The latest stage will involve ensuring Local Police control rooms have the necessary technology to receive the emergency transmissions.

The Cabildo has offered technical assistance and computer equipment to municipalities which do not currently have the infrastructure required to connect to the system.

The project is intended to improve security for both taxi drivers and passengers, while giving police faster information when dealing with an emergency.