Agenda item

The Committee received a report asking it to consider a requirement for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers to receive compulsory Safeguarding Adults and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Training.

The government had placed responsibility upon local authorities, private hire

operators and individual drivers to ensure that all licensed drivers were aware of

the warning signs that could indicate a passenger was at risk of CSE. Free CSE training had been available for existing licensed drivers for nearly 4 years and free online training had been available for the last 12 months.

It was proposed that CSE training would be made mandatory for all Surrey Heath licensed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers and Operators in order to promote public safety and to ensure that such persons remain ‘fit and proper’ to fulfil their role. It was also proposed that all new applicants would undertake appropriate CSE training as part of the application process. Any existing drivers who had not completed CSE training by 31 October 2019 would have their licence suspended or revoked.

Following questions from Members, it was underlined that sharing economy car for hire services, such as Uber, which were licensed outside of the Borough, were not within the Council’s control. However it was noted that all 11 Surrey Districts and Boroughs were committed to having all their drivers, operators and licensed holders CSE trained.

In addition it was noted that there were currently 32 Surrey Heath – licensed drivers which had not completed CSE training. Members were reassured that the CSE training- outstanding drivers would be contacted several times, via the methods of emails, phone calls and letters, before the suspension or revoking of licenses where necessary.

RESOLVED that

1.    all persons who make an application to renew or be granted a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers licence must first receive compulsory safeguarding training, as defined by the Executive Head of Community, regarding Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) with immediate effect and for licence conditions to be amended accordingly; and

2.    any existing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers who have not received safeguarding training, as defined by the Executive Head of Community, regarding Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) by 31 October 2019 shall have their licence suspended or revoked.