Leeds taxi drivers to protest 'racist' bacon remarks made by Leeds City Council officer
Leeds taxi drivers are protesting after 'racist' 'offensive' remarks were made to them about bacon sandwiches by a Leeds City Council Officer, according to an investigation.
The Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation (LPHDO) will be demonstrating outside Leeds Civic Hall from 11am today (February 22).
A Leeds council officer made “offensive” remarks to three Muslim residents which could be “construed as racist”, an investigation found earlier this month. The officer made “unnecessary” comments about bacon sandwiches which could “reasonably” be “interpreted as Islamophobic”, though he did not intend to cause offence, a probe carried out by the local authority concluded.
In regards to the protest today LPHDO chairman Ahmed Hussain said: "We're doing the protest today as there should be zero tolerance on Islamaphobia or racism from anybody.
"A licensing manager making those remarks is unacceptable. Our message to the people of Leeds is 'Why isn't the council taking action'?
"There is no need from any racism, we all need to stay united and stick together. The remarks were offensive and hurtful, we're asking the council to at least suspend him - it's a sackable offense."
A complaint against the officer has been partially upheld by the council, which said the officer involved had apologised. A report detailing the investigation, which has been seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, told how the employee was alleged to have made the comments while talking to three men at Civic Hall on December 19 last year.
It was claimed that while in conversation with the trio, all of whom are Muslim, he urged one not to arrive early for a meeting the following day, because he and colleagues would be, “having bacon sandwiches, and if you come early you don’t want to see us with bacon in our mouths.” It was said the officer apologised and insisted he’d meant no offence.
