A BACCHUS Marsh taxi company has called on the State Government to install security cameras as well as safety screens in cabs.

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky wants to introduce safety screens in taxis by Christmas and make pre-paid fares compulsory between 10pm and 5am.

Ms Kosky caved in to demands after Melbourne taxi drivers staged a 22-hour protest in central Melbourne after the near-fatal stabbing of a taxi driver in Clifton Hill.

The State Government agreed to foot half the $1300 bill for the new screens.

Taxi companies would be responsible for the other half.

It will be up to individual drivers over whether they choose to install the screens before taking passengers.

Bacchus Marsh Western District Taxis manager Charlie Habib said the priority for drivers should be safety so security cameras should be compulsory. "I support any measures they (State Government) propose for safety and I am very happy in this sense," he said.

"I believe they should even bring in security cameras."

Mr Habib said "social attitudes" were changing.

Young passengers today were less respectful of taxi drivers.

A second driver with the company, Darren Stebbing, said he would not use a screen but would welcome a security camera in his cab.