Extra checks for minicab drivers in wake of child abuse scandal Rochdale council says anyone applying for a licence to become a private hire driver will now have to pass an enhanced criminal records bureau (CRB) check
Private hire drivers will face more stringent checks after a group were jailed for grooming girls for sex.
Rochdale council says anyone applying for a licence to become a private hire driver will now have to pass an enhanced criminal records bureau (CRB) check.
The background check, which is more stringent then a normal CRB, will be repeated every three years.
The new measures are being introduced after nine men were jailed last year for a total of 77 years for grooming girls for sex.
Some of those convicted were private hire drivers who took youngsters in their licensed minicabs to two takeaways in Heywood were they were abused.
The council is also reviewing every existing driver to see if ‘it would still be appropriate for them to retain a licence’.
Gladys Rhodes White, the council's interim director of children’s services, said they had launched new initiatives to protect the borough's children.
It comes after the council's children's social services team were criticised for failing to intervene after they were repeatedly told about the abuse.
Mrs Rhodes White said: “There has been significant activity in recent months in relation to addressing the challenging problem of child sexual exploitation in Rochdale.
“Keeping children safe from harm is one of the most important things we do as an authority.”
Other developments to prevent the grooming scandal occurring again include:
•An increase in the resources allocated to the dedicated ‘Sunrise Team’.
• Extensive staff training
•Improvements to the referral process
•Stronger joint working with partners, including Greater Manchester Police.
Mrs Rhodes White added that experienced social workers and police had joined the Sunrise Team, a group of professionals tasked with tackling sexual exploitation.
More than 20,000 public sector staff have also had briefing sessions while another 1,500 have had more in depth face-to-face training on child sexual exploitation. And 10,000 schoolchildren have had awareness training on sexual exploitation.
A serious case review examining how five victims were treated by the authorities is currently taking place and the council’s own independent investigation is expected to conclude later this month
source:
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ke-1743566
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