​Taxi drivers helping to keep Bury safe

Taxi and private hire drivers have been taking part in new training sessions to raise awareness of safeguarding issues in Bury.

The first series of drivers who took the course were presented with certificates at Bury Town Hall by the council’s trading standards and licensing service.

The “Trust 2 Ride” training program, provided by Personnel Checks of Blackburn, used case studies to highlight the signs that drivers should look out for when transporting people.

The first sessions involved mainly drivers from the two biggest private hire businesses in Bury, Magnum Whiteline and Elton Bullitt. The training is now being extended to more than 1,000 remaining Hackney carriage and private hire drivers licensed in the borough.

Councillor Tahir Rafiq, chair of the licensing and safety panel, said the panel had made this training mandatory for all new applicants and taxi drivers who are currently licensed with Bury Council.

Congratulating the drivers, he told them: “As taxi drivers you have a very important role to play in protecting the public and keeping society safe. You are the eyes and ears on the street, you deal with the most vulnerable members of society, often at the most vulnerable times of the day and the things you may see and hear cannot be underestimated.

“On behalf of Bury Council we would like to thank you for being the first drivers to receive this training and contributing to making Bury a safe place to work, live and socialise.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 4 July 2019.

Picture: Some of the first cohort of drivers who undertook the safeguarding training are presented with their certificates, with (front, from left) Angela Lomax, head of trading standards and licensing; Michael Bridge, licensing manager; and Cllr Tahir Rafiq, chair of the licensing and safety panel.