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Cameras now in use to catch airport pirate taxis

A photo taken in Ibiza, where there are similar issues with pirate taxis. | Toni Escobar

| Palma |

There is now a system of eight cameras at the airport's entry and exit points to record vehicle registrations. This is all part of tackling illegal taxi services.

The regional government's transport minister, Marc Pons, explained that this is one measure in an "emergency plan against intrusion in the transport sector". The cameras at Son Sant Joan are already operating and will provide the Guardia Civil with a "helpful tool" for controls against pirate taxis, the number of which increase during the tourism season.

The cameras will enable there to be an initial phase of gathering information in a database. This, in turn, will provide an alert to any suspicious activity. The "emergency plan" also includes measures of inspection and coordination between the police, town halls and the Council of Majorca. There will be procedures for notifying local police forces about this activity. This can lead to fines of up to 6,000 euros and the immobilisation of vehicles.

There is to be a similar scheme in Ibiza as well. This will involve a dozen transport inspectors and the Guardia Civil and also the monitoring of pirate taxi publicity via the internet.

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