Safeguarding training paying off, or would the driver have done something anyway?
Police raid flat and arrest 4 men after taxi driver raises concerns for girl passengers' safetyhttps://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news ... -4-2944220Police force way into flat where girls had been dropped offFour men have been arrested on suspicion of child sex offences after a taxi driver became concerned for the welfare of two young passengers he had dropped off at a flat in Leicester.
The driver had collected the girls, whom he believed to be 15 or 16, from an address in the city on Sunday evening and took them to their destination - a flat where they were greeted by a man, Leicestershire Police said.
The driver had been concerned by the nature of the girls' conversation during the journey, when they discussed "alcohol, sex and drugs", the force said in a statement today.
"The driver dropped off the girls at the agreed address where they were met by a man who walked them inside," the statement continued.
"Fearing that the girls were being sexually exploited, the driver called police.
"Officers attended the flat and forced entry after entry was refused.
"Four men were arrested on suspicion of arranging or facilitating a commission of a child sex act and have been released under investigation.
"The girls were found at the address and have been spoken to by officers."
Last year, the force ran a campaign to help taxi drivers and hotel and bar owners learn how to spot the signs of the sexual exploitation of vulnerable young people.
Detective Inspector Jenni Heggs, from the force’s child sexual exploitation (CSE) team, said: “People who work in these industries are in a unique position to spot the signs of CSE whether it's a taxi driver who notices all may not be right with passengers in their vehicle, hotel reception staff looking out for unusual bookings or bar staff being alert to a number of indicators and raising the alarm if necessary.
“Reports such as this help us build the bigger picture around CSE and I would like to praise the driver for contacting police.
"He noticed something which didn’t seem right with him and he made the right decision by reporting his concerns.
“This latest report shows that our message is being listened to and people are helping the police and other agencies in the fight against eradicating CSE but this something that we must all continue to work together on.
"I would encourage everyone to know the risks around CSE, spot the signs and speak out to help us safeguard victims and bring their abusers to justice.”
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