Post by The Dark Knight on Aug 11, 2015 9:28:37 GMT
Dear All
You will be receiving / or may have already received a 'Safeguarding and
Safety' Handbook through the post.
Handbook helps taxi drivers act as eyes and ears
The new Safeguarding and Safety Handbook has been produced by Manchester
City Council and Greater Manchester Police in conjunction with
organisations representing the city’s hackney carriage and private hire
drivers.
The handbook, provides advice about a range of safeguarding issues such as
child sexual exploitation, human trafficking, female genital mutilation,
domestic abuse, hate crime and how to deal with suspicious package and the
signs to look out for that passengers might be involved in terrorism.
The handbook advises you on what action can be taken and where you can
report any concerns, as well as providing websites where more information
can be obtained. It provides examples of suspicious behaviour to look out
for, such as a driver picking up a young person who looks drunk and gets
into the car with a visibly older person who asks for them to be taken to a
hotel. As well as practical tips about making sure you stay safe while on
the road and advice about disability issues and etiquette while dealing
with the public.
The Council is working closely with the police to make sure our city is as
safe a place as possible, and as part of a well-informed team of taxi
drivers, who are out and about all the time, you can help us achieve that
aim.
As one of thousands of drivers who work across our city at all hours of the
day and night, you may occasionally see things which gives you cause for
concern. This handbook is about making sure you have the information to
know when to report something, and to make it as easy as possible for you
to do should the need arise. It has been developed to raise awareness
about reporting crime and is an opportunity to encourage you as a taxi
driver, as the eyes and ears of our community, to report intelligence and
any suspicious activity to the police.
Taxi Licensing Team