There's a link at the bottom to a fancy pants glossy leaflet-style advice thingy from the NLCC.
Not sure if it's new, but certainly don't think I've come across it before...if it's been around for a while, you'd have thought it would have been publicised a bit more, particularly via local authorities like this. And Bolsover District Council isn't exactly high profile
And the leaflet/brochure is slightly odd, in that there's no mention of the t-word on the frontpage, and it looks like it's maybe some kind of generic advice as opposed to specifically for the trade. But, in fact, the advice therein is quite specific to the trade. Maybe it's a kind of generic template modified specifically for a trade audience.
(And it's dated April 2026 at the end - so the Home Office hasn't really just 'issued' it as per my thread title.)
Anyway, this press release from Bolsover Council is probably a good enough summary of it all for most of us.
Taxi and private hire vehicle drivers’ role in helping to combat County Lines
https://www.bolsover.gov.uk/news/taxi-a ... unty-lines
Taxi and private hire vehicle drivers could play a key role in helping to combat ‘County Lines’ drug gangs.
Bolsover District Council’s Licensing & Enforcement team is educating taxi and private hire vehicle drivers on County Lines exploitation and the safeguarding responsibilities they hold.
Guidance from the National County Lines Coordination Centre, a Home Office project, highlights the vital role these drivers can play in identifying and reporting signs of criminal exploitation, safeguarding concerns, and County Lines activity.
County Lines is a violent and exploitative form of drug distribution, often involving exploitation of children, young people and vulnerable adults who are instructed to deliver and/or store drugs, and associated money or weapons, to dealers or drug users, locally or in other counties.
Taxi and private hire drivers’ unique position within communities could help in the fight against this crime and they are being made aware of key signs to look for and how to report concerns.
Passengers may:
- • Be children or vulnerable adults being controlled by others
• Be fearful, quiet, or unsure of where they are going
• Carry drugs, cash, or weapons such as knives
• Be asked to deliver packages without knowing what’s inside
• Be at risk of sexual exploitation, particularly young people
Drivers may also notice signs of ‘cuckooing’, where a vulnerable person’s home is taken over for drug activity. This can include repeated trips to the same address, unfamiliar people coming and going, or passengers behaving nervously when approaching a property.
Other signs to look out for include:
- • Requests to avoid police or take unusual routes
• Large cash payments or offers of extra money for secrecy
• Frequent short journeys or repeated trips to the same address
• Passengers constantly making calls or carrying multiple phones
• Someone else directing the journey or speaking on the passenger’s behalf
• Passengers who appear frightened, controlled, or under pressure
• Being asked to carry or deliver packages, instead of transporting a passenger.
Councillor Clive Moesby, Bolsover District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Resources, which includes Community Safety, said: “Drivers spend long hours on the road, often late at night, and may see things others don’t.
“This puts them in a unique position to notice signs of exploitation and criminal activity.
“That’s why taxi and private hire drivers are considered key safeguarding partners in tackling County Lines drug networks, which rely heavily on transport to move drugs, money, and people around the country. The guidance highlights why turning a blind eye can put both passengers and drivers at risk.”
He added: “Drivers must put their own safety first, but by staying alert and reporting concerns via official safeguarding routes, taxi and private hire drivers play a crucial role in stopping exploitation and serious harm in our communities.”
To view the full guidance, please visit County Lines - Guidance for Taxi Drivers and Private Hire Vehicle Drivers