Section 4: Safeguarding children and adults at risk

Section 4: Safeguarding children and adults at risk

This section gives you information on helping to protect children and adults at risk

Safeguarding means protecting children and adults at risk (sometimes called vulnerable adults) from harm and abuse.

We provide online safeguarding awareness training. It is important that you complete this training.

Who is a child or an adult at risk?

According to the law, a child is a person under the age of 18. All children are at risk of harm and abuse because of their age. Children are less able to protect themselves and they dep end on adults for this. This means they may be in danger of being exploited or abused.

An adult at risk is anyone over the age of 18 who is in need of extra care and support. An adult may be at risk of harm or abuse because they are unable to protect themselves. This might be because of their age, or a physical or learning disability.

Carrying unaccompanied children in your taxi

If your passenger is an unaccompanied child, make sure you know the name of the adult who will meet the child at the end of the journey.

Carrying children and adults at risk in your taxi

As a driver, you may have to transport children or adults who are at risk. You may come into contact with passengers who are being trafficked, exploited, abused or who are in need of help in some other way.

Keeping children and adults at risk safe from harm and abuse is everybody‘s responsibility, not just social workers or the police. You can help with this and you should know what to do if you are worried that a person is at risk. You might notice things that do not seem quite right, and you could be in a position to report something to the police that may help to protect someone at risk.

Make sure your behaviour with all passengers, including children and adults at risk, is appropriate and professional at all times. Be aware of how your Actions could affect others.

Signs that a child or vulnerable person is at risk may include:

• Young or vulnerable people being picked up and taken to hotels or suspected brothels, particularly at unusual times of the day and night
• A young person travelling to meet someone they don’t know, perhaps who they have met online
• A young person or adult who shows signs of being abused, harmed or not properly looked after
• Adults putting a young person into your vehicle who may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• A child or young person who looks concerned or frightened in the company of adults
• An adult or young person who may be poorly dressed/unclean or looks like they do not get enough food
• An adult who seems to be controlled by someone else or who is having decisions made for them by another adult
• An adult who seems to have their money controlled by someone else

If you think you have seen a child or adult at risk who is in need of help or is suffering from any signs of abuse, or if they have told you this directly, you must then report it to the police.

County lines

County lines is a type of criminal exploitation in which gangs and other organised crime groups use children and young adults to sell drugs. These children and young adults are often forced to travel across counties, sometimes using taxis, and use mobile phone lines to keep in contact with individuals in the drugs trade.

Signs that a child may be exploited and involved in county lines include:

• They are travelling alone
• They are travelling during school hours or unusual hours (early in the morning or late at night)
• They are a long way from home, unfamiliar with the local area, or have a non-local accent
• They are travelling a long distance
• They are paying for their journey in cash

How you can help?
It is helpful to keep a written or recorded note of the situation that you are worried about. Include details such as the date and time, a description of what happened, and the name, address and a physical description of the people involved. You can give these details to the police.

As a driver it is important to:

• Be aware of children and adults at risk
• Care about their wellbeing
• Listen to what they tell you
• Help them to feel less worried by being professional, kind and thoughtful
• Report your worries to the police using 101. In an emergency, call 999. If the journey was booked through an app or radio circuit, you should also report it to the company that accepted the booking

These are some other options if you do not feel it is appropriate to report the matter to the police.

You can phone:

• Crimestoppers (an anonymous service) – 0800 555 111
• National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) – 0808 800 5000
• Modern slavery and exploitation helpline – 08000 121 700

You do not need to give your details and can report a situation anonymously, but it’s better if you can give as much information as possible.

Helping to prevent suicide

You might carry passengers who are thinking of ending their own life. Wanting to die by suicide can be a temporary crisis, and it may be possible for you to help to prevent a suicide.

There are signs that people are thinking about ending their life, and their words and Actions can suggest that they are at risk of hurting themselves. Some things to listen or watch out for include:

• The passenger is using phrases such as ‘I want to give up’, ‘No one would notice if I wasn’t here’ or ‘I hate myself ‘. They may also mention wanting to die, feeling guilt or shame, or being, a burden’ (problem) to other people
• Are they inappropriately dressed? For example, not wearing shoes or wearing slippers, no handbag, no coat in cold weather, in their pyjamas or heading to a hotel without any luggage
• Are they particularly troubled, nervous, sad, moody, or extremely angry?

If you think your passenger may be thinking about hurting themselves or going to a destination where suicide may be possible (such as near a bridge) talk to them, try to keep them calm and call 999.

You can also suggest they contact the following services for support:

• Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day, 3 65 days a year, by calling 116 123
• Shout offers a confidential text service, open 24 hours a day, providing support to people in crisis who need immediate help. To contact them, you should text SHOUT to 85258