Taxi drivers in Tonbridge and Malling are to play their part in guarding against child sex abuse following scandals across the UK.

Around 600 hackney carriage and private hire drivers have become the first in Kent to get new training on protecting children.

The scheme is being rolled out after an independent inquiry into the Rotherham sex abuse scandal found private hire vehicles were used to move around victimised children.

It is believed 1,400 children in the Yorkshire town were sexually exploited, predominantly by gangs of British-Pakistani men.

Drivers will be asked to look out for any regular patterns in journeys, whether they are being booked to take the same adults or young people to the same addresses, or if older men were offering children things like alcohol.

An inaugural batch of drivers were trained at the council offices in Kings Hill at the end of June. Among them was Nick Rushby, manager of Castle Cars.

He said: “I went into the training quite sceptical, thinking these things seem like a good idea to the council but they can be a pain.

“It’s all to do with trafficking and what to look for. I now think it’s fantastic and I will support it the whole way.

“If putting all the drivers through the training saves just one victim it’s worth it.”

Jason Brown, manager of Express Cabs, added: “It’s not something immediately obvious to think about but having attended it makes you realise our drivers are in a good position to spot things like this.”

Once they have completed the training it is hoped drivers will be more vigilant about young people’s vulnerability.

If drivers are suspicious they can report concerns to their supervisors, the council or police.

Lessons are delivered as part of the council’s Safeguarding Children Abused Through Sexual Exploitation initiative.

The borough council did not say whether there was a heightened risk to children in the borough, but said it felt moved to act because abusers using private hire vehicles was a common trend across England.

Cllr Brian Luker, cabinet member for community safety, said: “With the recent high profile cases in the press we are making this training mandatory for all new applicants and those currently licensed.”