Taxi drivers may undergo compulsory training to prevent sexual grooming of children Proposal - involving around 1,300 Middlesbrough drivers - comes amid concern over licensing service’s ability to conduct thorough investigations
Taxi drivers in Middlesbrough will be ordered to undergo training to help prevent the sexual exploitation of children.
Around 1,300 drivers in the town will carry out compulsory online training, under plans considered by Middlesbrough Council.
The move is a response to a report into the abuse of underage girls in the Rotherham child exploitation scandal - and its links to taxi licensing.
The review highlighted a significant link between exploitation and the taxi trade, with some drivers either grooming girls or transporting them to be exploited.
Shortcomings in the operation of Rotherham’s taxi licensing were identified as a “major contributory factor” by allowing individuals who were not “fit and proper” to work as licensed drivers.
In Middlesbrough, taxi licensing is carried out by a single team.
A record is held on each driver including a cross reference to any complaints, prosecutions and previous licensing committee hearings.
In a report to be presented to a forthcoming council meeting, principal licensing officer Tim Hodgkinson writes that public safety is the primary concern when considering applications for taxi licences.
He adds there is a “need” to revisit the training for members of the licensing committee - as well as training for drivers - to ensure that it fully covers safeguarding vulnerable children and adults.
“Inspectors raised concerns regarding the licensing service’s ability to conduct thorough investigations,” he writes in the report.
“This gave rise to a perception that undue weight was placed on the protection of drivers’ livelihoods as opposed to the safety of the public.
“As a result, officers were setting the evidential threshold too high when considering the suspension or revocation of a driver’s licence.”
It was also found that “inadequate information exchange” occurred between the licensing service, children’s services and the police on individual cases.
All five local authorities - Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool and Darlington - plan to introduce child sex exploitation and adult vulnerability training as a mandatory requirement for all new taxi licence applicants.
Existing drivers will need to undertake the same training within 12 months when renewing their licence.
It is proposed to make it compulsory after poor take-up levels elsewhere when made voluntary.
The training is set to be delivered online as the most efficient way as face to face “would impede the smooth flow of driver applications”.
The training will cost around £5,000, which will be split between the five councils.
Middlesbrough’s share of the cost will be met from the taxi licensing budget.
It is recommended that Middlesbrough Council’s executive endorses the training plans at its next meeting on Tuesday.
source:
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teess ... g-10176936
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