A taxi has had CCTV installed as a trial to boost the safety of cabbies and gather evidence against criminals.

The camera has been installed in the back of a taxi belonging to Alan Woodward, secretary of the City of Oxford Licensed Taxicab Association (COLTA), which represents the city's 99 hackney cabs.

Mr Woodward was attacked two months ago and suffered minor facial injuries - no charges were brought because of lack of evidence.

Cabbie Alan Woodward shows off the new camera in his taxi

He said: "We have had quite a lot of incidents involving assault on drivers, and making off without payment, and, due to a lack of evidence, the police are very reluctant to take action."

He said the murder of taxi driver Leonard Gomm, 75, found stabbed to death on June 13, 1990, could have been prevented by CCTV. Mr Gomm's killer was never found.

"There's a sign in the back of the cab telling people there is a CCTV unit in here - that alone may have stopped that incident," he said.

The decision to trial the camera followed discussions with police and the management of the St Aldate's CCTV unit.

Superintendent Keith Ringsell of Oxford police said: "We have become concerned about the level of violence experienced by taxi drivers and are looking at ways of ensuring their safety."

The camera, bought by COLTA, has been in Mr Woodward's car for about a month and he believes the test has been a success.

A COLTA meeting in the next two to three months will consider whether the association should buy more CCTVs to install in members' cabs.

Mr Woodward said that initially members would fund the project, but other sources of funding will also be looked into.

He said private hire cars could also benefit from CCTV. Black cabs have a screen separating the driver from customers, but private hire cars do not have this protection.