Guidance notes: Human trafficking and dementia awareness

These guidance notes are for applicants for taxi and private hire driver licences. As part of your licence application, you will be required to take a human trafficking and dementia awareness test.

Human trafficking: Exploitation of vulnerable persons

What is human trafficking?

Human Trafficking is the crime of moving a person (adult or child) from one place to another into conditions of exploitation, using deception, coercion, the abuse of power or the abuse of someone’s vulnerability.

Unfortunately vulnerable persons can be “moved” by criminals who chose to have the journeys carried out in licensed vehicles, without the drivers having any reason to believe that such a person is a victim of such a crime.

Taxi and Private Hire Drivers are the eyes and ears of their communities through the work they do and the contacts they have, and if you are able to spot the signs of human trafficking and know how to report this crime, you can be a major force in tackling this terrible activity.

There are three main elements involved with Human Trafficking:

• Movement: recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people (adults or children).
• Control: threat, use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or the giving of payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim.
• Purpose: exploitation of a person (adult or child), which includes prostitution and other sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery or similar practices, street crime, forced marriage, removal of organs, forced to work, beaten, abused and too scared to escape.

How can you spot if someone may be vulnerable and being exploited and trafficked?

There are various tell-tale signals to look for. One sign on its own does not mean someone has been trafficked, but several signs together should give you cause for concern. Perhaps the person shows signs of the following:

• Does not know their home or work address
• Allows others to speak for them when addressed directly
• Live or travel in a group, sometimes with other persons who do not speak the same language
• They are collected very early and/or returned late at night on a regular basis
• May have inappropriate clothing for the work they are performing, and/or a lack of safety equipment
• Their physical appearance may show signs of injury, malnourishment, unkempt
• They may be isolated from the local community and/or appear to be under the control or influence of others
• Have no cash of their own
• Be known to work at a brothel and be frequently moved from one site to another

How to report your concerns

Make notes about the information you know, locations addresses and descriptions of people.

If you suspect that a person (adult or child) is vulnerable and may be the victim of abuse, exploitation and/or trafficking, you can report your concerns in confidence by telephoning:

• Sussex Police: 101 (or in an emergency 999) quoting Op Kite or
• Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111

Dementia awareness

Dementia is not a disease in itself. Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of symptoms that occur when brain cells stop working properly. This happens inside specific areas of the brain, which can affect how people think, remember and communicate.

There are over 100 different types of dementia and it is possible to have more than one type at the same time. The four most common types of dementia are Alzheimer's disease, Vascular Dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Fronto-Temporal Dementia.

Three important facts about dementia:

• Dementia is not a natural part of ageing.
• Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain.
• Dementia is not just about losing your memory.

To find out more, visit our Dementia support in Horsham District page.

If you would like to attend a free 45 minute Dementia Friends Awareness Session, please contact dementiacoordinator@horsham.gov.uk or call 01403 215517.