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Oxfordshire CSE report recommends taxi regulation review Oxfordshire CSE report recommends taxi regulation review
(about 1 hour later)
A "robust overview" of taxi driver licensing in Oxfordshire is needed, according to a new report into child sexual exploitation in the county.A "robust overview" of taxi driver licensing in Oxfordshire is needed, according to a new report into child sexual exploitation in the county.
The Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board's "stocktake" report shows the progress agencies have made since 2011.The Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board's "stocktake" report shows the progress agencies have made since 2011.
In 2013 seven men were jailed for child rape and trafficking as part of the Operation Bullfinch investigation.In 2013 seven men were jailed for child rape and trafficking as part of the Operation Bullfinch investigation.
The latest report recommended taxi drivers were subject to stronger vetting procedures. The report recommended taxi drivers be more strongly vetted because of the number of children in care transported.
In March, a serious case review found police and social services made "many errors" and failed to stop the sexual abuse of young girls in Oxfordshire.In March, a serious case review found police and social services made "many errors" and failed to stop the sexual abuse of young girls in Oxfordshire.
As many as 373 children may have been targeted for sex in the county in the past 16 years, the report said.As many as 373 children may have been targeted for sex in the county in the past 16 years, the report said.
The £1.1m Kingfisher unit, set up by Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire County Council, has been set up to tackle the issue.The £1.1m Kingfisher unit, set up by Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire County Council, has been set up to tackle the issue.
'Good progress'
The latest report, written by Maggie Blyth, said a new face-to-face vetting procedure for taxi drivers had been introduced since June.
Oxfordshire County Council has changed the rules for hiring drivers for vulnerable people, with a new, higher standard needing to be met.
Ms Blyth said: "We need to focus on transportation systems for children.
"Oxfordshire has a statutory responsibility for transporting children in care, there are 1,000 transported daily.
"Taxi drivers play an important role in keeping an eye on children in the community as well."
A joint statement from all Oxfordshire councils said: "Our aim is for every driver and every escort to have completed all the necessary assessments, vetting and safeguarding training as a condition of receiving his or her licence.
"This will raise the bar for safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults using transport services."
Other recommendations were for strong leadership by chief officers, greater understanding of perpetrator profiles, better support for adults who experienced abuse as children and better engagement within communities.
'Grooming at pub'
Agencies were praised for their progress.
"The overall conclusion is that there has been good progress in setting up specialist interventions for children at risk of CSE and robust measures used to identify perpetrators and bring them to justice."
As of 1 April the different bodies, including councils, police and social services, were working intensively with 70 children and more than 100 potential offenders had been identified.
Further issues have been identified during work to solve the issue of CSE, such as self-harm, neglect within families, and female genital mutilation.
As well as the convictions secured under Operation Bullfinch, six people were convicted in March in Banbury.
A further six "lone offenders" and another group of three offenders have been convicted of offences including on-line grooming and abuse of both boys and girls.
The report also said a pub had been closed down in a "large-scale" operation after it emerged the premises was used for dealing drugs and grooming girls.