@Chainzreaction of course I do. Not just that but I'm not buying their excuse like you are. Fear of being seen as racist my arse, they didn’t give a shit or worse they were complicit (corruption or worse).
Some councils actively fucking helped. Stopping the enforcement of licensing for taxi drivers isn't being afraid, isn't doing nothing it's actually helping the rape gangs.
Oh were they "afraid" once the extreme level of their corruption and not give a fuckedness got revealed? Sure. That was a fear of losing their jobs and everyone knowing exactly what despicable human beings they were.
That’s the real issue.
So no, I don't buy their excuse or let them hide behind it and direct focus elsewhere.