Key Points
- Dozens of taxi drivers in Bolton face immediate suspension for failing to complete mandatory safeguarding and disability awareness training introduced by Bolton Council.
- The Trust2Ride Safeguarding Training, which was made compulsory for all taxi and private hire drivers since June 2019, aims to help drivers identify safeguarding concerns and better assist disabled passengers.
- 74 taxi drivers are currently at risk of having their taxi licences suspended for not complying with the new training requirements.
- The initiative follows several years of phased roll-out, with deadline extensions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Drivers who have not attended the required sessions or failed to provide evidence of completion are being notified by the Licensing Team regarding their impending suspension.
- The Trust2Ride scheme, delivered in partnership with Personnel Checks and accredited by the CPD, encompasses topics such as Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), human trafficking, best safeguarding practices, and support for vulnerable adults and disabled passengers.
- The council has previously offered free early bird sessions and remote (Zoom) participation to ensure training accessibility.
- The suspension measure is the culmination of an exhaustive communication process, including letters, emails and council web notices, as confirmed at the last licensing trade meeting.
- Licensees have the opportunity to book final sessions or provide proof of previous completion before licences are formally suspended.
- Privacy and safeguarding compliance form part of broader suitability policies monitored by Bolton Council’s Licensing Team.
- The development has triggered debate across local and trade media, with some drivers and trade representatives voicing concern over the administrative burden and timing of the policy during a period of public driver shortages.
Dozens of Bolton taxi drivers now face suspension after failing to complete mandatory safeguarding and disability awareness training, as Bolton Council's Trust2Ride initiative enters its final phase. The training, designed to equip licensed drivers with critical skills for spotting safeguarding risks and supporting vulnerable passengers, is at the heart of the council’s enhanced public safety drive. With 74 drivers currently under threat of immediate licence suspension for non-compliance, the story has ignited debate in both local and trade media circles, underscoring the tension between regulatory enforcement and operational pressures within the taxi industry.
What Is the Trust2Ride Safeguarding Training and Why Was It Introduced?
According to Bolton Council Licensing Department correspondence published on the council’s official channels, the Trust2Ride Safeguarding Training was approved in June 2019 as a mandatory measure for all private hire and hackney carriage licence holders. The programme, developed in partnership with Personnel Checks and accredited by the CPD Certification Service, is aimed at “empowering drivers to fulfil their duty of care to safeguard the borough of Bolton”.
As detailed by the Licensing Team, the course covers critical subjects including child sexual exploitation, human trafficking, recognising abuse, safeguarding best practice, and improving driver and passenger safety. The intention is that, upon completion, drivers will be able to identify vulnerable potential victims and understand their mandatory reporting and safety responsibilities.
How Has the Roll-Out of the Training Progressed to Its Current Stage?
As reported by Perry Richardson of Taxi Point, the initial phase of the training saw a significant number of drivers participate in early bird, face-to-face sessions at Bolton Arena. However, following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, further face-to-face training was postponed and subsequently transitioned to an online format to facilitate renewed access for all licence holders. Those drivers who completed the training between 2019 and early 2020 were issued with attendance certificates, Trust2Ride vehicle stickers, and guidance literature.
However, dozens of licence holders failed to attend or provide proof of completion following repeated rescheduling and communication campaigns by the Licensing Team. As published by PHTM News, the recent return to in-person licence reviews revealed that 74 drivers remain non-compliant and are consequently now subject to suspension protocols.
What Has the Council Communicated to Non-compliant Drivers?
In a guidance letter issued by the Licensing Team, reviewed by the licensing unit and confirmed at a recent Executive Cabinet Member meeting, drivers were informed that their failure to comply with the safeguarding requirement would result in immediate licence suspension, as per licensing policy and the council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability. Drivers were also directed to the council’s online booking system for final available sessions or urged to present evidence of session completion to resolve their outstanding application status.
PC, a representative of the council licensing unit, affirmed at the last trade meeting that "suspension of licence would be the next step," following exhaustive attempts to communicate requirements to all relevant drivers. The council further clarified that privacy considerations are observed in processing driver data, in line with published statements on data protection and suitability.
What Topics Are Covered in the Trust2Ride Training?
According to official Bolton Council guidance, the Trust2Ride training covers the following:
- Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
- Human Trafficking
- Recognising Indicators of Concern & Types of Abuse
- Driver & Passenger Safety
- Best Safeguarding Practice
Upon completion, drivers receive a certificate of completion, a vehicle sticker, a guide for passengers, and a Trust2Ride handbook. Bolton Council emphasises that every licence holder must complete the training—even those who may have prior safeguarding experience in other fields—due to the unique circumstances and risks encountered in the taxi trade.
What Is the Scale and Immediate Impact of Licence Suspensions?
As reported by PHTM News, local sources and the council website, 74 taxi drivers now face suspension proceedings for failing to complete the compulsory safeguarding component of licence renewal. Licencees will remain suspended until they demonstrate compliance with the requirements, causing immediate operational consequences for both the drivers and the taxi companies employing them.
The Licensing Team at Bolton Council, in communications included within official minutes, explicitly confirmed that
“suspension of licence would be the next step”
and that all affected licencees have been contacted with instructions on final opportunities to comply.
How Have Local Drivers and Stakeholders Responded?
According to coverage by Perry Richardson in Taxi Point and local media accounts, the policy has generated considerable debate. Some drivers and representatives have argued that the strict enforcement comes at a time when the town and wider Greater Manchester region face a shortage of licensed drivers, thus risking public transport disruptions. Others, however, support the council’s stance, underscoring the critical importance of safeguarding and public safety above all.
No formal statements from trade union representatives or large-scale driver protests have been documented thus far, though some sources suggest contentious debate at licensing meetings regarding communication, availability of sessions, and administrative processing times.
What Happens Next for Bolton’s Taxi Trade?
Bolton Council’s position remains firm: licence suspensions for non-compliant drivers are now being enforced as a matter of safeguarding policy and legal obligation. However, the Licensing Team has reiterated that bookings for final sessions can still resolve outstanding suspensions provided drivers act swiftly. Drivers who feel they have complied but have not been recorded as such are encouraged to contact the licensing department directly and provide proof of completion or direct certification affirmation from training organisers.
What Are the Wider Policy and Legal Implications?
Bolton Council’s approach reflects a wider regional and national move towards heightened safeguarding requirements in the taxi and private hire industry, partly in response to high-profile child protection inquiries and the need for robust public trust in the sector. As reported by multiple news outlets, the council’s policies are underpinned by its Statement of Fitness and Suitability, privacy compliance, and participation in the National Register of Taxi Licence Revocations and Refusals (NR3) for information sharing between authorities.
The programme’s successful enforcement in Bolton may serve as a model for other local authorities seeking to reconcile safeguarding priorities with day-to-day operational needs in the transport sector.
As this latest deadline passes, Bolton faces a critical inflection point in both its regulatory and public service journey. While safeguarding remains paramount, the operational and social effects of mass driver suspension are only beginning to take shape, setting a precedent for towns and cities across the United Kingdom.