Safeguarding

Human trafficking and child sexual exploitation

Everyone is becoming aware of the well-publicised issues relating to child sexual exploitation and human trafficking that have occurred throughout the country. These are abhorrent crimes, and the licensing authority has a duty to assist the hackney carriage/private hire trade and the public in tackling this issue, and to protect those who are vulnerable and / or being exploited. We need the help of all licensed drivers and operators to identify those who commit these crimes, and protect those who most need our help.

There is always more that can be done by everyone to help promote a better understanding of this subject, and we hope that this page will assist you in being able to identify those at risk, how to protect those who may be vulnerable or being exploited, how to ensure that your actions do not negatively contribute to such persons becoming victims, and to whom to report your concerns.

What you can do to help those at risk

By following the good safeguarding practices below you will be helping to protect those who are vulnerable and / or being exploited. We need your help to bring to justice those who commit these crimes.

Check at the point of hire or booking if there are any vulnerability issues. This will allow you to prepare for the journey in the right way.
Ask the person booking if an escort for the vulnerable passenger is required and if they are providing one.
Let your head office know (or keep a record yourself) of the time you picked up the vulnerable passenger, the time and place you dropped them off and whether there was any incident or anything significant on the journey.
If you refuse to take a passenger inform someone that you can’t take them so they can deal with the person another way (for example, hospital staff, family, security staff if a club/pub).
Record any incidents or refusals you have been involved in or have witnessed.
Never give out food or gifts.
Be professional - try not to be over-friendly or talk about personal or intimate issues, don't exchange personal contact information such as passenger's telephone numbers or Facebook address.
Avoid swearing or aggressive behaviour.
Do not hug, kiss or touch a passenger in an inappropriate way.
Never accept an offer of a sexual favour instead of payment.
Make sure you are wearing ID, (your licence badge and your company uniform).
Never sit alone passengers in the back unless otherwise agreed.
Ask or explain to passengers if using a centralised locking system - don't just put it on without an explanation.
Don't assume that your passenger wants help - always ask.
Never follow a passenger into the house unless previously agreed / properly authorised.
Ask before making a journey shorter by going off the main roads/using isolated country roads, explain and give the passenger (or person booking) a choice of route.
Never set off with a passenger without a specific destination address.
Never double up on a fare or booking – even if passengers are travelling in a similar direction, they may pose a threat or risk to the other passenger.
If you think the passenger is afraid, offer to ring head office to tell them you have a passenger with you and give the name address and approximate time of arrival; this reassures the person that they are safe and someone is monitoring the trip.
As with all professions if you are concerned about another driver’s conduct report your concerns to your manager or the relevant agency.
Organisations should have a lead member of staff for safeguarding; this person should be able to advise colleagues about how to manage vulnerable passengers and any incidents arising.
Always keep a record either in your cab or at head office, of any incidents or situations you were not happy with – the record should include a description of what happened and what you did to keep yourself and your passenger safe.

How can you spot if someone may be vulnerable and being exploited?

There are various tell-tale signals to look for. One sign on its own does not mean someone has been trafficked, but several signs together should give you cause for concern. Perhaps the person shows signs of the following:

does not know their home or work address
allows others to speak for them when addressed directly
live or travel in a group, sometimes with other persons who do not speak the same language
they are collected very early and/or returned late at night on a regular basis
may have inappropriate clothing for the work they are performing, and/or a lack of safety equipment
their physical appearance may show signs of injury, malnourishment, unkempt
they may be isolated from the local community and/or appear to be under the control or influence of others
have no cash of their own
be known to work at a brothel and be frequently moved from one site to another.

You may also wish to see the Home Office advice on the criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults.

Who to contact

If you think you may be carrying someone who is vulnerable and/or the victim of exploitation:

Phone 999: Call the police emergency number if you believe that the risk is imminent / assault happened or likely to.

Record and report concerns to the Police 101 and / or the safeguarding services if a child or vulnerable adult is involved. Further information on the different options available to report your concerns can be found on the Derbyshire Constabulary website.

Phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

If you need to make a safeguarding referral, you should contact Call Derbyshire (Derbyshire County Council) on 01629 533190 (at any time). This number is for referring concerns about children, young people and adults at risk.

Further Information

Further information or advice about Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing can be obtained from the Licensing Department:

Licensing Department
Erewash Borough Council
The Civic Centre
Derby Road
Long Eaton
NG10 1HU

Call: 0115 9071113
Fax: 0115 9071121
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.