A FREE training course to raise awareness about child sexual exploitation and how to protect vulnerable people will be held at West Devon Borough Council on February 8.

The taxi driver safeguarding course is run throughout the year for all licensed taxi drivers, under the council’s Community Safety Partnership. The same session will also be held at South Hams District Council’s offices.

The training is designed to show the drivers what child sexual exploitation is, the tactics that perpetrators use, how safeguarding can involve the taxi trade unknowingly in trafficking and how to report a concern.

Community safety partnership lead Cllr Robin Musgrave said: ‘Taxi drivers are the eyes and ears of our community. Through this course we are able to provide support, knowledge and skills that will help the drivers to help their customers.

‘Community safety is incredibly important to us and we are pleased about the opportunity to work together with the drivers once again, to help vulnerable people at risk.’

The first course for 2018 will be held on February 8, in the West Devon Borough council chamber at Kilworthy Park.

If you are a licensed taxi driver and you would like to get involved, email [email protected] to reserve a place.