Guernsey Press

Ulez cameras vandalised and stolen with 987 crimes recorded in seven months

The Metropolitan Police said it is taking crimes linked to the devices seriously.

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Nearly 1,000 crimes linked to ultra low emission zone (Ulez) cameras being stolen or vandalised have been recorded by police in seven months.

Of the 987 offences chalked up by the Metropolitan Police, 220 are reports of cameras being stolen and 767 of the devices being damaged.

So far three people have been charged, one of whom has had their case dropped, and two arrested and bailed.

The force said: “The Met continues to treat criminal activity in relation to Ulez seriously and has deployed considerable resources to our operation.

A Ulez van with black paint sprayed on its camera
A Ulez van with black paint sprayed on its camera (@BrazahUKG on X/PA)

Transport for London said on Tuesday that 95% of vehicles within London are now compliant with the emission zone requirements, which were expanded to cover all London boroughs from August 29.

Figures suggest TfL receives approximately £730,000 a day in Ulez fees.

The expansion of the scheme has encountered some opposition, with an anti-Ulez Facebook group with more than 40,000 members urging people to refuse to pay the £12.50 daily fee for non-compliant vehicles, as well as celebrating the vandalism of enforcement cameras.

Protesters at a rally in September against the expansion of London's Ulez.
Protesters at a rally in September against the expansion of London’s Ulez (Jeff Moore/PA)

The fine for failing to pay the Ulez charge is £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days, but increasing to £270 after 28 days.

A scheme providing up to £2,000 for Londoners to scrap a non-compliant vehicle remains open.

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