Startling figures reveal that Ulez cameras have been targeted nearly 1,000 times in the past seven months. This comes in the wake of Sadiq Khan's decision to extend the Ultra Low Emission
Zone (Ulez) across Greater London, imposing a daily £12.50 fee on drivers with polluting vehicles, causing discontent among affected motorists.
These attacks have witnessed cameras and vans being subjected to vandalism, including paint spraying and attempts to topple them in an effort to disrupt the new tax on drivers, which was introduced on August 29.
The Metropolitan Police announced that 987 crimes related to Ulez cameras have occurred in the capital, including 220 thefts and 767 instances of damage. Law enforcement has made five arrests and filed two charges in connection with these incidents.
Among those arrested is a 52-year-old man apprehended on suspicion of criminal damage and a 45-year-old man held on suspicion of conspiring to commit criminal damage to Ulez cameras, along with encouraging or assisting in offenses. Both have been granted bail until December.
A 44-year-old man was previously arrested and charged with criminal damage in May but had his case discontinued by the CPS the following month. Joseph Nicolls, 42, from Foots Cray High Street, Sidcup, faces charges of criminal damage, malicious communications, and handling stolen goods, as well as aiding and abetting the destruction or damage of property valued over £5,000. His trial at Woolwich Crown Court is scheduled for June 10, 2024.
Additionally, Stephen Nunn, 39, from West Wickham, Bromley, was charged with criminal damage on October 28 and has been released on bail, with a court appearance set for November 13 at Bromley Magistrates' Court.
The controversy surrounding Ulez intensified last month when wardens patrolling the zone began wearing balaclavas to conceal their identities due to confrontations with Blade Runners activists who aimed to sabotage the scheme. In response, London Mayor Sadiq Khan deployed vans with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology to curb Ulez-related crimes.
The total cost of the Ulez program, including the replacement of damaged equipment, remains undisclosed, as Transport for London refuses to disclose the information, citing potential risks to public safety. The Taxpayers' Alliance, a campaign group against wasteful governmental spending, criticized this decision, emphasizing that taxpayers have a right to know the full cost of Ulez.
As of August 29, Ulez expanded to cover all of Greater London, and drivers of polluting vehicles who fail to pay the £12.50 daily fee will initially receive warning letters. In the near future, Transport for London is expected to issue fines, starting at £180 and potentially rising to £250. A spokesperson for the Scotland Yard affirmed that criminal activity in relation to Ulez is treated seriously, with significant resources dedicated to investigating such offenses. Photo by David Hawgood, Wikimedia commons.