viaUNO Cars is committed to protecting the welfare of every passenger we carry, with particular attention to children, young people and vulnerable adults. This policy outlines the measures we take in line with the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Act 2022, our local licensing conditions in Southampton, and good industry practice.

Who this protects

We consider the following passengers to be potentially vulnerable and treat them with extra care:

Children and young people under 18 travelling alone or in small groups
Older adults, particularly those travelling alone
Disabled passengers, including those with mobility, sensory or cognitive impairments
Passengers who appear intoxicated, unwell, distressed or disoriented
Any passenger who communicates that they feel unsafe

Driver checks and training

Every driver engaged by viaUNO Cars must hold a current private hire driver's licence granted by a UK local authority. Before any driver carries passengers for us, we verify the following:

Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check — renewed at the frequency required by the licensing authority (usually every six months via the DBS Update Service).
Right to work in the UK verified against original documents.
Safeguarding awareness training completed, covering child exploitation, modern slavery indicators, disability awareness and de-escalation.
DVLA driving licence check and a valid medical fitness-to-drive assessment where required.
Annual vehicle compliance check against the licensing authority's standards.

What our drivers do

Display their private hire badge clearly at all times while working.
Confirm the passenger's name and destination before starting the journey.
Never take a detour or pick up additional passengers without the booking being made through viaUNO.
Report any incident, concern or disclosure made by a passenger to our office without delay.
Treat every passenger with dignity regardless of age, race, religion, disability, gender or sexuality.

How we handle concerns

If a passenger raises a safeguarding concern, or if a driver witnesses something that gives cause for concern, we follow this process:

Immediate safety first. If there is imminent risk of harm, call 999. If the concern involves a child or vulnerable adult but is not an emergency, contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101.
Log and escalate internally. The operator records the concern and refers it to the designated safeguarding lead at viaUNO Cars.
Liaison with authorities. Where appropriate, we share information with the local safeguarding board, children's services, adult social care, or the licensing authority.
Internal review. We review what happened, support any driver or staff involved, and update our procedures if lessons can be learned.

Zero tolerance

We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, harassment or discrimination by anyone connected with our operation. Any driver found to have breached this policy will be removed from our work immediately and reported to the licensing authority and to Hampshire Constabulary as appropriate.

How to report a concern

If you have a safeguarding concern about a viaUNO Cars journey, please contact us as soon as possible:

Email support@viauno.co.uk (subject: “Safeguarding concern”).
Use our contact form.
For any immediate danger, call 999. For non-emergency concerns, call Hampshire Constabulary on 101.

You may also contact Southampton City Council's licensing team, whose details are on the complaints page.

viaUNO Cars — licensed private hire operator, Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom.

Safeguarding Policy