Nottinghamshire Police urges taxi drivers to help protect vulnerable young people
Nottinghamshire Police are enlisting the help of taxi drivers, hotel start and bar workers in a proactive effort to safeguard children from exploitation and abuse.
The initiative forms part of Operation Makesafe, a nationwide strategy to protect at-risk young people.
Officers from the force’s Child at Risk of Exploitation Team are visiting hotels across the county, equipping staff with the knowledge to identify and report suspicious behaviour. In-person briefings and printed guidance are being provided to help employees act confidently when something feels amiss.
Taxi drivers, often unwittingly involved in transporting both victims and perpetrators, are being trained to recognise potential warning signs. Licensed venues are also receiving advice on identifying concerning behaviours that could signal exploitation.
Indicators include young people who appear anxious and are accompanied by significantly older individuals, last-minute bookings, guests arriving without luggage, and unusual activity in or around rooms. These red flags are critical in identifying and preventing harm.
Operation Makesafe seeks to create a network of vigilant individuals across the hospitality and transport sectors, ensuring that vulnerable children are spotted and safeguarded before harm occurs.
Detective Sergeant Adam Taylor, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “I believe that people generally have very good instincts about situations that don’t look or feel right, so this initiative is mainly about empowering them to act on those feelings by sharing some of the key warning signs with them.
“Things we urge them to look out for include older men in the company of teenage girls, or boys, who are clearly not related to them; children who may be intoxicated or uncomfortable in the company of adults; late-notice check-ins with no luggage, and multiple visitors going to and from the same room.
“These are all classic signs of child exploitation and it’s important that our hotel workers, taxi drivers, bar staff and others likely to come into contact with exploited children are aware of them and feel confident to act.
“We really can’t have too much information so I encourage anyone who has concerns to call us immediately via 101 or 999 so we can investigate.
“Sometimes there may be a perfectly innocent explanation, but if we can protect even one vulnerable young person from harm this initiative will have been worthwhile.
"Hotels, drivers and other venues are also being advised of the importance of retaining CCTV, incident logs and refusal records for further investigation.”
