Zaheer Hussain was at the centre of the video which surfaced online

Preston City Council says it will review taxi driver Zaheer Hussain’s licence in light of the CPS decision not to charge him with any offence.

Hussain, 41, was seen jeering and making racist threats to Muslims who had converted to Christianity in a video filmed in a cab in the Moor Park area of Preston in December.

Following his arrest, Hussain surrendered his licence and has not been allowed behind the wheel of a cab since.

More than 1,000 people signed a petition calling for Hussain to be stripped of his licence.

But yesterday, following a nine-month investigation, the CPS said the circumstances did not meet the threshold to charge Hussain.

A Preston City Council spokesperson said: “A licensing hearing will be arranged at the earliest opportunity where all the relevant facts will be considered.

“The driver will be unable to drive a Hackney Carriage vehicle in Preston until the matter has been considered by the Taxi and Miscellaneous Committee.”

Read more: Hate rant taxi driver will not face charges over comments made on social media

Members of Preston’s Ex-Muslims Association have urged the council to ban Hussain.

A spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened by the CPS’s result to not charge Zaheer Hussain for his hate-filled rant of threatening to rape Muslims converts to Christianity, but are left reassured by the thorough and detailed investigation led by Chief Inspector Sansbury from Lancashire Constabulary, based at Preston Police Station.

“We thank Preston Police for being proactive and transparent though out the course of their investigation.

“We urge Preston City Council to take note of the amount of signatories collected on the petition below calling for the withdrawal of Mr Hussein Taxi Licence.

“His views carry a severe conflict of interest as a Taxi Driver with potential customers, and also puts people at risk given the nature of his comments during the video.”

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