TAXI drivers are being offered free training to help keep communities in West Devon safe.

Travelling around the community, taxi drivers can often become aware of issues relating to vulnerable children and adults.

West Devon Borough Council is now offering all licenced taxi drivers the opportunity to take part in a new training course aimed at raising awareness of issues relating to child sexual exploitation and vulnerable adults. The courses have been commissioned, following a recent review into how they could improve their safeguarding practices.

Cllr Jeff Moody said: ’This is a fantastic opportunity to provide training for our local taxi drivers, to help them to identify risk to these vulnerable groups of people. This course will offer drivers the knowledge of how to deal with difficult situations which they may become aware of during their travels.’

The two hour workshop to be held at the council offices at Kilworthy Park in Tavistock has been designed and developed to give all drivers an overview of how safeguarding can involve the taxi trades; what child sexual exploitation is; an insight into the trends used by the perpetrators and to give drivers the knowledge and confidence to report concerns.

This course, one of many nationally, comes after information from Devon and Cornwall Police identified an awareness opportunity in the South West. 

Devon and Cornwall Police sector inspector for West Devon Mark Sloman said: ’We are pleased to support this training for taxi drivers in West Devon.  Any training that raises awareness around child sexual exploitation can only help in preventing and detecting this type of crime. Taxi drivers are a group of people who may see suspicious activity and who are in a position to raise their concerns in the right way. By working with partners and local businesses we can maximise our safeguarding efforts, protect young people and bring perpetrators to justice.’

If you are a licenced taxi driver and you would like to get involved, the next training session is on Thursday, February 11.

To reserve a place on a workshop please call 01803 861336 or e-mail [email protected]