TAXI drivers, fast food owners and hoteliers are being offered a training course to tackle child sexual exploitation.

They have been chosen to take the course as they are seen as the industries most likely to be used to carry out the crime.

It has been welcomed by the taxi trade in the city but a fast food owner said it should be open to all professions.

The course, funded by West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion and delivered by Young Solutions, a charity dedicated to protecting young people, in partnership with Worcester City Council, aims to help recognise the signs of abuse.

More than 2,400 children were victims of sexual exploitation in gangs and groups from August 2010 to October 2011, according to the NSPCC.

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: "Taxi drivers are in a perfect position in the community to spot signs when children and young people are being trafficked across West Mercia. A taxi driver who has been trained in child sexual exploitation (CSE) can become part of a network that can prevent this horrendous crime from happening.

"Most of those who attend this training aren’t always aware of what CSE is, so giving them this knowledge is invaluable. We aren’t asking people to play the role of the police, but these individuals could provide information, which they might feel is insignificant, but could lead to children being protected and offenders being brought to justice."

Last week, to coincide with the National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day, taxi driver training, which includes a short presentation to help drivers to identify and recognise the signs of child sexual exploitation, understand their responsibilities and how to help 'at risk' children and young people, took place in Worcester.

Some 70 per cent of taxi drivers in the city took part.

Lesley Borthwick, of Worcester Taxi Drivers Association, said: "I think it is better to have had the training.

"I suppose you may not know if something is right or wrong – I think with the training you would think it is wrong – you would see a little bit more and would think to report it.

"It was alright – I have done training before – I don’t think there was enough awareness.

"It was informative but I think it could have been more in depth.

"It is very difficult to know how to realise (a child is being sexually exploited).

"It is better to have knowledge of how to notice the signs."

As the last course was full booked, another course is currently being arranged.

Mohamed Khalil, general manager of Fownes Hotel in City Walls Road, said he and his staff would be happy to take part in the specialist training.

He added: "I think it would be a good idea. I have heard about the scheme before and I think it is a good idea for the whole country to receive training."

But Maskeen Shah, manager of Caspian Pizza in Sidbury, said he felt the scheme wrongly "singled out" certain professions.

He said: "I think everyone should get it – everyone should have that type of training but they shouldn’t be singling out certain groups.

"First line of course is parents, then it should be teachers, police, ambulance service then takeaways, taxi drivers etc.

"Maybe more so taxi drivers -they have the time to talk to them we don’t actually have time to talk to them or time to see them.

"The majority of our trade is online.

He added: "Everyone should be aware."

Pete Sugg, chief officer for Young Solutions, added: "We’re so grateful to have the funding to allow us to deliver this training. It’s so important to educate people about where CSE may be happening, and it’s about making the groups we deliver the training to think of areas and places they might not have thought about before."