TAXI drivers in County Durham are to undergo training to spot tell-tale signs of sexual exploitation of children.

All Hackney carriage and private hire drivers licensed by Durham County Council will be required to carry out Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) awareness training, after more than half of people responding to consultation supported such action.

More than 680 drivers – 40 per cent – of the 1,757 licensed by the council have already voluntarily received CSE awareness training.

Further free training sessions have been arranged by the Durham Local Safeguarding Children Board.

Drivers must attend one of the sessions by September 1.

Knowledge tests for new applicants will also be changed to include questions around CSE awareness.

Councillor Brian Stephens, the council’s cabinet portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “One of the primary aims of taxi licensing is to protect and safeguard the public, especially our children and young people who are among the most vulnerable groups in society.

“By making it a requirement that all drivers undergo CSE training, we hope that we can help them spot signs of abuse and act on it accordingly.”

Other licensing amendments include a requirement for drivers to have their identification clearly visible to passengers, tougher emission standards for new vehicles, encouragement to use CCTV in all licensed vehicles and drivers must sign up to the Disclosure and Barring Service Update Scheme.

Basic numeracy testing will be introduced as part of the knowledge test while older vehicles will be required to undergo more frequent testing.