Posted on the 21st January 2026 in PHTM News

MANDATORY RETRAINING FOR NOTTINGHAM CABBIES AFTER GROOMING SCANDAL PROBE

Black cab drivers in Nottingham may soon be required to undergo rigorous safeguarding training every three years following a damning national report that found current licensing arrangements are "not fit for purpose."

The proposal by Nottingham City Council follows a major investigation led by Baroness Casey into the sexual exploitation of children in England.

The report exposed a "link between taxi licensing and abuse," detailing how perpetrators have "exploited weaknesses in the current system" to target vulnerable youngsters.

Under the new plans, the council intends to scrap the current "one-and-done" approach, where drivers are only trained when they first receive their badge.

Instead, cabbies would be required to complete a refresher course every 3 years to help them "identify suspicious activities" and "recognise types of abuse."

A city council document outlining the shift stated: "Clearly the number of failings in areas shows how perpetrators have exploited weaknesses in the current system of setting and enforcing standards within the taxi trade."

To ensure the highest standards, the authority is also considering raising the examination pass mark to 100 per cent, replacing the current 70 per cent threshold.

The council confirmed that the enhanced training will not be funded by the public, as the cost will "fall on the drivers themselves to cover the fees." 

The curriculum aims to ensure drivers know exactly "how they can report concerns" to keep passengers safe from harm.

The council insists the policy change is essential to "aligning the frequency of the mandatory training with the good practice set out in the report" and restoring public trust in the trade.


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