As the Department for Transport finishes a three-month review of AVs, legal experts warn that crash evidence must be "retained and protected from being wiped" to ensure victims can prove what happened.

A staggering 96 per cent of people who took part in a consultation voted against the change, forcing the council’s general purposes board to stick with its current strict rules.

A "Notice of Motion" warns that a legal loophole allows drivers licensed as far away as Wolverhampton, Stoke, and Sefton to work in the borough, often avoiding the strict rules faced by local cabbies.

The new operator is making a bold pledge to only use drivers licensed by Portsmouth City Council, specifically avoiding using drivers licensed in Wolverhampton.

Under the strict enforcement, any driver caught without the required signage will face an immediate suspension with the incident recorded on their driver record.

Aamar Shahzad Ahmed, 47, and Khalid Mahmood, 60, both pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates' Court to plying for hire without a licence and driving without insurance.

Officers responded to the call around 5pm regarding a group of "suspicious males" who fled the scene in a cab, which was intercepted by response teams shortly after on New Lane.

Basildon Borough Council announced: "Taxi drivers are a vital part of Basildon. They keep our communities moving, support residents at all hours, and play a key role in our local economy.