London taxi and minicab drivers now EXPECTED to undertake new Safeguarding Awareness training

All London’s taxi and private hire drivers are now EXPECTED to undertake new Safeguarding Awareness training at the earliest opportunity, say the capital’s transport regulator.

On 21 July 2020, the Department for Transport (DfT) published its Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards, which included a requirement that all licensing authorities should provide safeguarding guidance to the sector and should require taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to undertake safeguarding training.

Transport for London (TfL) now expect all licensees to undertake Safeguarding Awareness training at the earliest opportunity and have also encouraged staff working for PHV operators and taxi booking platforms to undertake this training too.

The training course is available on TfL’s new Safeguarding Awareness webpage: tfl.gov.uk/safeguarding

The new webpage also includes links to additional resources that licensees of taxis and Private Hire might find useful, including where and how to report concerns.

According to TfL sources the training course can be completed on a laptop, desktop, tablet or smartphone. It is free for any user to access and can be undertaken as many times as required.

Graham Robinson, General Manager Taxi and Private Hire TfL, wrote in a trade notice to drivers on Thursday: “Keeping children and vulnerable adults safe from harm and abuse is everyone’s responsibility. Taxi and private hire licensees, particularly licensed drivers, and individuals working for private hire operators and taxi booking platforms are in a unique position to identify and help take steps to prevent the abuse, exploitation or neglect of children and vulnerable adults.

“By understanding early warning signs and knowing what to do where there are concerns that a child or vulnerable adult is at risk, taxi and private hire licensees can play a significant role in preventing harm and abuse.

“With this in mind, and in line with the Department for Transport’s Statutory Standards for taxi and private hire licensing, TfL has developed a Safeguarding Awareness training course for taxi and private hire drivers and all other licensees.”