If you are a taxi driver and are licensed with us, you’ll need to complete a Safeguarding Course within six months of receiving your Dual Driver’s Licence.
We are all responsible for helping to keep our Ryedale community safe. Your own role, as a taxi driver, is incredibly important and we really value the part you play in keeping our children and vulnerable adults safe.
Why do I need to do a safeguarding course?
- As a taxi driver, you are in a unique position to help stop or prevent abuse in Ryedale – you are the eyes and ears of our community.
- Your training helps you to spot the signs of abuse and know what to do if you have a concern
What should I look out for?
- Unusual comings and goings from a property. This might indicate someone is selling drugs
- Unusual numbers of young people coming and going from a flat or house – they could be going there to take drugs, get alcohol or it could be a sign of sexual or criminal exploitation
- Signs of domestic abuse
- Signs that children are not being safely supervised
- Young passengers being dropped off at a location that causes you concern
- Men who regularly ask for taxi rides to and from a location, taking young people with them
- Young people (both boys and girls) being collected and taken to hotels / B&Bs / parties at odd times
- Signs that people are being forced into labour
- Anyone who seems vulnerable in their own at home. You might drive someone home from hospital and get a sense that won’t cope well on their own.
- Elderly or vulnerable adults whose circumstances suddenly change. It might be that they can’t afford to go shopping or take part in activities that they usually attend.
What should I do if I spot something concerning?
- If someone is in immediate danger you should contact the police by phoning 999
- If it needs a Police response but it is not urgent, please contact 101 or ask your office to phone for you
- Send an email to the Ryedale Policing Team
- If you have information that could help the police you can pass information on anonymously through the Crimestoppers website or telephone 0800 555111
- North Yorkshire County Council can be contacted 24 hours a day seven days a week on 01609 780780 for concerns about children and adults at risk of abuse
How should I record things that I see?
If you are worried about something you have seen, make notes about it as soon as you can. Include:
- Location or address
- Time and date
- Car registration numbers, make and model of any vehicles involved
- Names (if you know them)
- Describe what you saw, what you heard, what happened
- Sign and date the notes
- Keep your notes somewhere safe or give them to your manager to store as they may be needed in future
Thank you for the part that you play.
More information
North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board
North Yorkshire County Council – Safeguarding vulnerable adults
Stop Hate UK – for information about hate crime and how to report it.
Child Sexual Exploitation – Police and Prevention – download a PDF information for professionals working in the night time economy.
IDAS – support service for people suffering domestic abuse.
North Yorkshire Police “County Lines” drug dealing – information about “County Lines” drug dealing in North Yorkshire.
Anti-Slavery – information about modern slavery.