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Police have confirmed they will not be charging a taxi driver who was recorded slurring a racist rant threatening to rape Christians who had converted from Islam.

Zaheer Hussain, 41, was arrested on suspicion of religiously aggravated harassment after the video of him in a car circulated social media in December last year.

He later apologised for the ranting.

Four further men, all from Preston, voluntarily attended at a police station and were also questioned under caution in connection with the incident.

Lancashire Constabulary conducted detailed and wide ranging enquiries in relation to the incident, including using digital specialists.

However, after liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service, the decision has been made by them that no further action will be taken.

Police have explained that their primary role is to investigate whether any criminal offences have occurred.

Why no charges have been brought

The video was initially posted into a private WhatsApp group containing a very small number of people, confirms police.

There is evidence to support the 41-year-old man’s claim that he did not intend for the video to be shared beyond that small number of people and despite numerous exhaustive enquiries, police are unable to determine how it was distributed beyond that group and by whom.

There is therefore no evidence to prove that the arrested man had any intention to incite or stir up religious hatred amongst the general public.

A separate offence of sending a grossly offensive/indecent or menacing message by a public communication network was also put to the Crown Prosecution Service, but it was decided by them that it did not meet the evidential test for a criminal offence.

What Lancashire Constabulary has said

Chief Inspector Steven Sansbury said: "I fully appreciate the distress and public interest that this video caused and have been determined to make sure a robust and thorough investigation was conducted, and all possible offences that may have been committed were considered.

"We work hard to keep communities across Preston safe and feeling safe and, as part of the investigation, we have spoken to a number of individuals and community organisations to reassure them.

"We are absolutely determined to tackle all crime motivated by hate and prejudice and I would urge anyone who has been a victim of a hate crime to have the confidence to come forward and report it to us.

"We will always deal with victims of hate crime professionally and sympathetically and do everything we can to both support them and seek justice wherever a crime has been committed."

Hate crimes can be reported to police by calling 101 or using the non-emergency online crime reporting site here.

Hate crimes can also be reported through True Vision, a national online reporting facility.

For more information about hate crime and how to report it click here.

Lancashire Victim Services offer specialist support to any victim of hate crime here.