THE champion of Bournemouth's taxi trade has urged would-be passengers to take licensed cabs after it was revealed 19 people have reported being sexually assaulted by a driver in Dorset since 2014.

Kevin Holmes, chair of the Bournemouth Joint Taxi Trades Association, said some drivers will inevitably "slip through the net", despite extensive vetting.

However, he said the boom in people offering lifts for cash via social media may be exacerbating the problem.

"Any assault, whether it's sexual or not, is obviously horrendous," he said.

"Taxi drivers are extensively vetted, although, just like in any other profession, some will slip through the net.

"I think part of the problem will be illegal drivers. For example, you might have someone who borrows a friend's cab for a couple of nights to make an extra bob.

"There are things you just can't control.

"There are also sites on social media where someone can offer lifts. For example, they might take someone in Ringwood to Bournemouth for a fiver.

"The driver isn't licensed, hasn't been checked and isn't insured for that."

One Bournemouth-based site offering lifts has around 3,500 members, Mr Holmes said.

"Half of the time, passengers don't look for the badge in the cab," he said.

"Licensed drivers should have an identity badge."

During last summer, sex offender Steven Muranganwa Charewa approached two teenagers on a night out in Bournemouth town centre after they were unable to afford a taxi home.

A friend of Charewa's drove the victims home. Charewa stroked and grabbed one of the girl's thighs on the journey, and later left the car when the victims did and attacked the second girl.

The father of one girl found the 24-year-old on the roof of the conservatory by an open window in the early hours of the morning.

Police in Dorset received six reports of sex attacks by a taxi driver in 2014/15, five in 2015/16 and eight up until August in 2016/17.

Nananka Randle, Bournemouth council's licensing team manager, said: “We make every effort to ensure all new and existing taxi and hackney carriage drivers meet the high standards expected of them.

"We have reviewed and renewed our Criminal Convictions Policy, and all new and existing drivers have to submit an enhanced DBS certificate.

"In addition, we also require all drivers to undergo child sexual exploitation awareness training and all new drivers have to undertake the BTEC in passenger transportation."

Sean Whitney, public health and protection manager at Christchurch and East Dorset Councils said an enhanced DBS certificate must be submitte with any new taxi licensing application. An updated certificate must then be resubmitted every three years.

Taxi drivers must also inform the council of any convictions received during the course of their licence so a hearing may be held.