ALL Kirklees taxis will now have to display permanent door stickers showing their licence plate numbers.

The move is a bid to stop the misuse of licence plates and ensure travellers are getting into genuine taxis.

Licence conditions mean Hackney Carriage and private hire car drivers already have to display the signs - but currently they are removable.

Many drivers put the signs on magnetic bases or fasten them loosely with sticky tape.

But now Kirklees Council's licensing committee has decided that the council-produced signs must be permanently stuck on.

Members of the committee said removable signs can be lost or stolen and could be used to make other cars look like taxis.

Missing signs also make it difficult to trace a particular taxi or private hire car if there is a problem.

Kevin Kendall, the council's head of licensing, said: "What we are trying to ensure is that people are getting into a taxi they know that it is licensed."

The Kirklees Hackney Carriage Association, the Kirklees Private Hire Association and North Kirklees Private Hire Association objects to the move.

Mohammed Ameen, representing all three associations, said if drivers cannot remove the signs when they are off duty it will cause problems.

He said: "Some of our members have been stopped for not wearing their badges even when they are not working, because police have spotted the door signs."

Mark Horsforth, owner of Mount Cars, told councillors permanent stickers could lead customers to think off-duty cabs are actually available.

He said: "It is licensed as a taxi and insured as a taxi all the time, but at some point the driver will use it for private use.

"Most drivers don't have two cars and will end up being harassed."

However, councillors dismissed the concerns.

Clr Adrian Murphy said: "We have to look after people in Kirklees using taxis.

"You say someone is likely to approach you. That is just an occupational hazard."

Kevin Kendall said

cars being licensed for the first time will have to have permanent stickers applied immediately.

Cars that already have the 12-month licence will have to put the stickers on when they renew it.

He added: "With the way we are phasing it in, it will be 12 months at the most before nearly all cars have the stickers. Some cars have already taken this on board already and are using the signs."

* As well as displaying door signs, both Hackney Carriages and private hire vehicles should have licence discs in their front window showing the vehicle registration number, licence plate number and expiry date.

* Hackney Carriages in Kirklees are white and have a taxi sign on the roof. Hackney Carriages can pick up fares immediately.

* Private hire cars are identified by signs on their doors. They must be pre-booked.

* Both types of cab should be displaying a licence plate in their rear window.