yarpTaxi drivers in Brixham are being trained to spot the warning signs to prevent the potential harm to young people and raise awareness of the issue of child sexual exploitation.
Torbay Council’s licensing department is enlisting the help of cab drivers by encouraging them to help by reporting what they have seen.
Child sexual exploitation is the term used when a young person is coerced into a sexual relationship or situation by an adult.
It can happen to any young person from any background.
It often involves young people being offered something in return for performing sexual acts, for example alcohol, cigarettes, mobile phones, money, gifts, drugs or simply in the belief that they are loved.
Young people who are already in the cycle of abuseare sometimes used to lure others in.
Cllr Robert Excell, executive lead for community services, said: “In some national cases taxi or private hire vehicles were used to take young people between locations, so the aim of this training was to highlight to drivers the kinds of things they may see or overhear that may indicate a child or young person could be at risk.
“It could simply be a ‘gut feeling’ that something isn’t quite right.
“We’re not asking drivers to take matters into their own hands, but to be more aware of who they’re picking up, where they’re going and perhaps to think more about the reason why they could be making that journey.
“A lot of separate pieces of information from members of the public can often be used by the police and pieced together.
“Our licensed drivers are no exception and, being in a unique position, they often hear or see things that they may not think are important, where in fact they may be just that.”
The training for taxi drivers is being provided by the Children’s Society as part of its national campaign to raise awareness of abuse among businesses and communities in general.
As a result, licensed drivers are initially being offered the training for free, but after May the Hackney carriage taxi and private hire policy may be updated to require that abuse training will be obligatory for all drivers.
A small charge will need to be made for attending future training.
The warning signs associated with a young person who is experiencing abuse may be difficult to differentiate from “normal” teenage behaviours, however, the outcomes can be devastating.
Anyone concerned about a child or young person should contact the Torbay Safeguarding Hub on 01803 208100 or get in touch with the police on 999 if they believe a child is in immediate danger.
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