To think that this says everything needed about attitudes to women's safety

And this should be part of a national standard for all taxi and minicab drivers. Anything that results in a prison sentence, and a number of other offences.

It's as much that the committee seemed to have had no concept of what a slap in the face their decision would be to the courageous victim and her family.

Previous poster is quite right that removal of the licence should have been a natural consequence of a conviction for such an appalling offence.

One of the male voters has resigned from the licensing committee, not as a councillor.

From the article:

He said that with the benefit of hindsight and information that was not available on the day of the meeting, an alternative decision could have been taken.

Grafton said he asked officials if there were any legal implications around the licence, and had assured himself that Brown "presented no current threat".

He added: "The remaining vehicle licence would expire well before he was due for release.

"It is my compassion and my processing which led me to this decision on the day. We have been told in licensing several times that we are not here to punish – that is the job of the courts."

information that was not available on the day of the meeting, an alternative decision could have been taken

Why was a decision made without all the relevant information, if that is indeed the case?

What is the information that is now available, since the voters' names and the way in which they voted have been made public?

Not here to punish.

Does he honestly think revoking a rapist's licence, who is in jail for that rape, is a punishment? Should it not be a consequence?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9q2dqzl12zo

It doesn't work like that. Prison rapes are nothing like as common as people seem to think.

Prison culture is actually surprisingly safe. It isn't perfect by any stretch but it's not a free for all on sexual abuse or violence. And nor should it be.

And you think that cures a man of being a rapist?

I hate to let the facts get in the way of a good froth but his licence only had 3 years left on it before it expired and tge driver would be in jail for around 7.He would therefore have yo apply for a new one on his release. Refusing a new licence is going to be a lot more straightforward and cheaper process than convening committees of councillors. Pragmatically the result-he never drives or operates a taxi again -is the same!

It feels like this shouldn’t be subject to a vote. If you commit a crime like this, that’s it end of licence. It should be automatic.

I bet they are all saying “He is a good bloke.”

He's banged up and not going to be driving a taxi for the next 5+ years. Quite likely he won't be physically capable by the time he gets out.

He's only 50 now! Even if he serves every single day of his sentence (unlikely), he's hardly going to be too decrepit to commit physical violence at 55-56.

To be honest it seems fairly irrelevant at this time.

He's banged up and not going to be driving a taxi for the next 5+ years. Quite likely he won't be physically capable by the time he gets out.

Would be a nice justice if he learned more on the topic while he's in jail.

And when he gets out there will presumably be a review of his license as there would be for anyone with a newly acquired criminal record.

If his license is withdrawn now, before any potential appeal is heard (can happen any time during his sentence), and then he did appeal and was found innocent ... then he might have a claim for compensation and I don't want that.

They need neither in order to be competent adult human beings.

These men are not it.

All need to be sacked.

I used to think Germaine Greer was being a bit OTT when she said women just don'tvrealise how much men hate them.

I don't think it is hate, though, as just not thinking of us as human. As in, they think you wouldn't deprive a man of his livelihood for running over a dog, and this inon a par...

What the f*ck is wrong with the council members? This man is a convicted rapist. He has shown he is utterly untrustworthy around women and can never be trusted as a taxi driver again.

They are all men. Do they think it's funny? All boys together? Is their attitude that boys will be boys? Or are they fantasising about taking their turn?

None of them is fit to be a Councillor and every one of them should be removed. Immediately. They blatantly have not done their safeguarding training. Or are they all in receipt of brown envelopes?

I hope their wives and daughters and grand daughters and mothers and sisters hold them in the absolute contempt they deserve.

Truly shameful.

If you can follow this link, there is an image showing their names and faces. x.com/i/status/2072279304583451123

Those councillors should have been held equally responsible if he'd raped another woman. No accountability.

Have their names been published? People should know who these men are when they're voting next.

Exactly.

If our legislation meant there would be a way for any future victims of this convicted rapist to sue the individual councillors who had knowingly approved his operator licence, they wouldn't have approved it.

If any future crimes would imperil their financial future, they would never have prioritised the rapist's financial future over the risk to public safety.

At this point men shouldn’t be allowed in politics.

Well obviously they dont care as as family member could get into a taxi with him because their Dad, husband, brother voted to give him back his licence, so they clearly couldnt give a shit. I would like to see them questioned about their reasoning for their decision

I don't think it would. They undoubtedly believe she "brought it on herself", which of course their wives/daughters/aunties never would. They also have absolutely zero thoughts on rape, it's just a word that happens to someone else. And that someone else "naturally" isn't part of their circle or (usually) sex class.