Coventry taxi drivers trained to spot child exploitation

Licences will only be issued if the training course has been completed

Taxi drivers in Coventry will have to undertake mandatory training in spotting the signs of child sexual exploitation.

From September, Coventry City Council will only issue a cab licence if the course has been completed.

Research by the authority suggests more than 100 children between the ages of 9 and 18 are currently at risk of being sexually exploited in the city.

Drivers can be jailed if they are found to be involved in such activity.

Signs drivers are trained to spot:

• Taking or collecting young people from hotels, B&Bs or house parties

• Picking up young people from other cars

• Young people who look distressed or intimidated

• Attempts by children or young people to avoid paying fares in return for "sexual favours"

• Males regularly requesting taxi rides to and from locations taking young people with them

• Taking young people, who are not in the presence of parents, to A&E

• Young people with injuries such as bruising

The training course has been available on a voluntary basis since June, with a hotline for concerned drivers to call and report suspected abuse.

David Galliers, who is in charge of licensing at the council, said: "The drivers are the eyes and ears of the city.

"They're transporting people right across the city day and night, and they now know what to look for if any child looks worried, vulnerable or frightened".