[g jones]

This is the case where the police asked the Council to take his licence away following the first case and the Council lied twice, firstly by saying they could not take his licence away until a recent (but too late) change in the law laws and secondly saying the Police had not been in touch (a story they later changed). In fact the Council could have suspended a licence any time it felt under the old law, if they believe the person to not be a 'fit and proper person'.

What would have happened under the old law is he would have appealed and got it back until the appeal was heard - not under the new law. Crucially that could have been enough and was the right course of action. What did the Council do - NOTHING.

Clr Britcliffe some 12 months ago removed such immediate decisions from Officers and gave them to the chair of Taxi Licensing. Allah Dad and Clr Britcliffe must carry a huge proportion of responsibility for this second attack.

It's in my view a disgrace and those two Councillors should resign. 1) for gross incompetence AND gross negligence and 2) for lying to (I think they call it misleading) the public afterwards to cover their own backs.

What should have happened is;
1) Police refer first incident (which they did).
2) Officers in consultation with councillors call in the accused and read the riot act, suspend his licence and discuss the serious implications with the taxi firm and the companies taxi licence. (The Council failed to do)
3) If he appeals and get's his badge back, work intensely with the police and with officers to monitor the company and individual.(The Council failed to do)
4) get the appeal through as fast as possible (The Council failed to do)