PLANS to install CCTV cameras recording sound and video in all Oxford’s taxis have sparked a civil liberties debate.

The plans, as revealed in Monday’s Oxford Mail, will see all conversations recorded as well as video footage from the moment the key is turned in the ignition until 30 minutes after the car is switched off.

Since the scheme was revealed, the issue has been discussed on the Jeremy Vine Show on Radio 2, and The Wright Stuff on Channel 5, and in national newspapers.

UKIP MEP Nigel Farage, whose constituency includes Oxfordshire, is the latest to condemn the move.

He said the proposal was “the most native invasion of personal privacy I’ve yet seen in this country” and called for the decision to be reversed.

Oxford City Council said the scheme would provide evidence of attacks on drivers and also in relation to allegations of driver misconduct. All cabbies have to have the £460 systems installed by March 2015.

New taxis will need the cameras from April 2012.

Mr Farage said: “It would appear that councillors are unaware that we are in tough financial times and this money they are happy to spend eavesdropping in on personal conversations will be coming from the pockets of hard working residents.

“They should be looking at ways to cut spending rather than implementing measures which would make George Orwell shudder.”

Oxford City Council spokesman Louisa Dean said: “There are laws in places that require the viewing of such images to be necessary and ... must relate to a specific complaint, incident or investigation.”