TRAINING TALK
NORFOLK POLICE TRAIN TAXI DRIVERS ON SPOTTING DRUG CRIMES
Norfolk Constabulary has been working with taxi companies on how to spot drug dealers and report suspicious behaviour to avoid cabs being used in county line drug deals. News of the link-up came as police revealed details on a major
operation across the county where twelve people were arrested and two county line phone lines shut down during a national intensific- ation week between March 4 - 10. Arrests and seizures of drugs, weapons and cash were made, offences included possession with
intent to supply Class A & B drugs. Other work during the week of activity included working with taxi companies to ensure they know what to look for and how to report suspicious behaviour as taxis are sometimes used by dealers to move around the county.
STANSTED AIRPORT CABBIES EDUCATED ON SIGNS OF COUNTY LINES AND CHILD EXPLOITATION
A police operation to crack down on child exploitation saw Essex officers hand out information to more than 200 taxi drivers and passengers at Stansted Airport. Safeguarding officers from Operation Raptor descended on the airport on 18 March 18. They stopped 178 taxis and handed out advice leaflets. They gave out QR codes from the
Children’s Society’s Look Closer campaign containing information about exploitation and telling people what to do if they spot someone who concerns them. The work at Stansted was the latest deployment of Operation Bumble, which began in October 2022 to highlight the signs of child exploitation. Det Sgt Mark Ghosh, who co-
ordinates Bumble, said: “The main intention was to educate drivers about county lines. They need to be aware that children using taxis could be victims of exploitation. “Previously, they
told us they
lacked knowledge and confidence about who to report to. The positive sign is that now, drivers are keeping information in their cars and know the signs to look for.”
WORCESTER CABBIES GIVEN TRAINING TO SPOT VICTIMS OF ABUSE
Worcester’s taxi drivers will be given training to help them identify the victims of CSE. Licensed drivers are seen as being in an ideal position to spot and safeguard at-risk children, as well as vulnerable adults and victims of domestic violence. Now the city council wants to introduce mandatory safe- guarding training for all cabbies as part of the process of renewing their licence. Training schemes have previously been offered to drivers on a voluntary basis, but
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licensing officers say this has created an “uneven playing field”. In a report put before Worcester City Council’s licensing committee on 4 March, taxi drivers are described as the “critical eyes and ears of the community” who “often encounter vulnerable people”. “In respect of CSE, appropriately trained licensed drivers can assist in identification of incidents and persons of concern,” the report says.” The committee agreed to a 12- week consultation period, with a
view to implementing the scheme from January 1, 2025. Councillors heard that there will be a cost to drivers but that officers are trying to
keep this to a
minimum, with the cost of the course likely to be around £20. Niall McMenamin, the city council’s principal officer licensing, told the committee: “This is about the driver being able to identify the people in the back of their vehicle, and them knowing the signs, where to report, and what to do at the time, if appropriate.”
APRIL 2024 PHTM
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