TAXIS will be off the streets of Huddersfield tomorrow night - the busiest of the week.
Drivers are taking strike action from 11pm in a show of solidarity for murdered colleague Mohammad Parvaiz.
They are also demanding better protection from police and Kirklees Council after the killing of Mr Parvaiz, 41, at Golcar last Saturday night.
The news came as it was confirmed that two more teenagers will appear in court today accused of murder.
A 16-year-old and an 18-year-old were charged last night with the murder of Mr Parvaiz, of Birkby.
It brings the total of teenagers charged with Mr Parvaiz's murder to six.
Most of the 1,700 cabbies in the area will not be driving between 11pm tomorrow and 6am on Sunday.
The time coincides with when thugs beat Mr Parvaiz, a father-of-three, to death in Field Head.
Revellers are now being encouraged to find alternative transport home.
The moves follow a meeting of about 300 taxi drivers at Clare Hill Community Centre on Wednesday night.
Nasim Ahmed, vice-chairman of Kirklees Hackney Carriage Association, said: "At the meeting there was support for Mr Parvaiz.
"It's not to hurt the public; it's support for the taxi driver. It's some way of giving him support.
"That's what the majority of taxi drivers decided on."
Fellow association member Balhar Singh said: "We stand by our colleagues.
"There's been a few strikes here or there, there's been minor things, but not a serious thing.
"It's frightening. We come out to make a living and this poor lad came out to earn his day's work and he was murdered in Golcar."
Joint chairman of Kirklees Hackney carriage Association Akooji Badat read out a joint statement between his group and Kirklees Private Hire Association.
It said: "The move is to show solidarity and unitedness to all taxi drivers with each other, but also to the deceased/murdered Mohammad Parvaiz and condolences to his family.
"Our prayers for all the best in the life hereafter for Mohammad Parvaiz."
The statement urged the police and courts to "severely punish those bullies who are responsible for the death/murder of Mohammad Parvaiz".
Mr Badat added his apologies for any inconvenience and that he hoped people would understand why they were taking action.
Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman was at the meeting and backed the cabbies' calls for more support.
He said there was a minute's silence in memory of Mr Parvaiz and also deep-felt condolences for his family.
Mr Sheerman added: "It was a very angry meeting. The drivers feel very strongly that they do not get the support they need.
"They want assurances from the police they will get a rapid response if they call for help.
"They have to deal with unruly passengers every day and every night and are fearful that police will respond 45 minutes or an hour after the call.
"I will be raising the matter with Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn as soon as I can."
He added that taxi drivers wanted more support from Kirklees Council, which could include help with installation of CCTV cameras in cabs.
Supt Nigel Hibbert, of Kirklees Police, said: "We are grateful the drivers' response is measured and borne out of some careful consideration.
"When hate incidents are reported to us they are treated extremely seriously and thoroughly investigated.
"Clearly we want to inform members of the public who will be needing private hire and taxi transport that it won't be available and they will need to consider other methods of transport.
"In terms of responding to incidents involving taxi drivers, we assess every call we get and respond appropriately.
"We are in the process of planning for Saturday evening and will have appropriate resources in place should any incident occur.
"We are planning to meet the taxi drivers to work with them to discuss their concerns."
A spokesman for Kirklees Council said: "The council and the police have a good, long-standing relationship with local taxi drivers and we are happy to meet them to discuss their current concerns."
Four teenagers, aged between 16 and 19, have already appeared in court charged with the murder.
Mr Parvaiz, who worked for Lockwood Taxis, was beaten to death as he responded to a fare.
Michael Hand, 19, and three other youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before magistrates in Huddersfield on Wednesday.
Hand, from the Huddersfield area, and two 17-year-olds, were remanded in custody.
A 16-year-old was remanded into secure accommodation after his bail application was refused.
