BOURNEMOUTH council officials have stripped four taxi drivers of their licences in recent months over fears for public safety.

The details of such cases are not publicly available. However, one of the drivers involved - Anthony 'Tony' Rees - has since been sent to prison after admitting assaults on vulnerable female passengers.

Councillor Andrew Morgan, chairman of the council's licensing board, said customers' safety is paramount.

"There have been a number of recent cases where we have taken licences away. We’re very firm on this," he said.

"The ultimate priority is the safety of the public. We are pleased to represent members of the public and we are there to act as guardians to make sure they are kept safe from drivers who act in this way."

Rees, of Cleveland Road in Bournemouth, was sentenced to four months in prison after admitting two counts of assault and one of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at Poole Magistrates' Court on January 30.

The court heard he grabbed one woman by the throat and shoved her to the ground, and dragged another woman from his taxi.

Two other women were verbally abused by the 60-year-old.

All of the incidents took place over the course of a week in October last year.

Magistrates said his victims were "vulnerable" and Rees was in a "position of trust" at the time of the attacks.

Cllr Morgan said: "As soon as we are told of something untoward, we can act very quickly.

"There doesn’t need to be a meeting of the licensing board – a decision can be taken by myself and Cllr Dave Kelsey, and a driver can lose their licence immediately."

Drivers who do have their licences taken can appeal the decision before magistrates.

Cllr Morgan said passengers should be able to trust taxi drivers.

"The overwhelming majority of drivers do their job very responsibly and take care of their passengers well," he said.

Speaking after Rees was sentenced, Nananka Randle, Bournemouth council’s licensing team manager, said all applicants are required to present an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate on application. Licensed drivers have to submit an enhanced DBS every three years.