That’s one way to avoid a fine! Now anti-Ulez activists block mobile cameras with vans as the fightback against Sadiq Khan’s hated scheme continues
- A black transit van and grey truck are seen wedging in a mobile Ulez camera
A video has emerged showing two large vehicles blocking in a mobile Ulez cameras to the sound of triumphant cheers in the background.
The video appears to have been taken by a passenger in a vehicle driving past the scene that shows a large black transit van and a grey truck, resembling a prison transport vehicle, parked on either side of the mobile Ulez camera.
The Ulez debacle is met with the triumphant sound of cheers and drivers sounding their horns, presumably in support of restricting the surveillance system from targeting non-compliant vehicles.
The mobile surveillance cameras appear to be firmly wedged in between the vehicles with little to no room on either side to allow any maneuvers for an exit.
A fleet of Ulez camera vans were deployed this month in a fresh bid to catch charge dodgers following a wave of attacks on CCTV units, with over 500 of the 2,700 ANPR cameras reported to have been destroyed or disconnected by anti-Ulez vigilantes.
The video shows a large black transit van on one side of the mobile Ulez camera, parked extremely close to the mobile Ulez camera unit
A large grey truck, resembling a prison transport vehicle is parked in front of the mobile Ulez camera, with little to room for the unit to move on either side
The mobile surveillance cameras appear to be firmly wedged in between the vehicles with no way of being able to maneuver an exit
The large black transit van can be seen parked behind the mobile Ulez camera, blocking its way out and hindering it from moving
A Transport For London (TfL) spokesperson told the MailOnline: ‘We have an extensive camera network, which is sufficient to support the effective operation of the scheme.
‘We have deployed some mobile camera units as part of the mix of cameras, and have done so for many years across the different schemes we operate.
‘We are aware of recent attempts to block our mobile camera units.
‘This incident was reported to the police and resulted in the other vehicles being moved on. Such incidents will not stop the ULEZ operating London-wide’.
This comes after footage was uploaded on Wednesday by another bystander that showed mobile Ulez cameras being protected by a dedicated security teams in a bid to stop vandals.
A TfL spokesperson told the MailOnline: ‘As part of our programme to improve the security of ULEZ cameras we have hired a small number of security staff.
‘The use of mobile camera vans will be reviewed continually by TfL to ensure the effective enforcement of the scheme’.
The footage was shared on social media on Wednesday of an activist approaching a man and a woman sitting in a red Renault Clio and asking if they were security, prompting one of them to nod.
The activist continues: ‘There’s two of you, this is public money. You’re just keeping an eye on it to make sure no one smashes it?’ In response the male guard nodded his head.
Vandals were out in full force again today as an anti-ULEZ ‘ninja’ was praised for scaling a traffic light and cutting down a camera with an angle grinder.
In the video, the ‘blade runner’ can be seen hauling himself up the pole before smoothly slicing away the device, letting it crash down onto the pavement below.
Footage circulating on social media, apparently filmed by either the vandal or their accomplice, was showered with praise by some commenters who declared it ‘bloody brilliant’ and suggested someone should ‘buy that man a pint’.
Some urged him to ‘keep up the good work’, however not everyone agreed – with one appearing to suggest that reversing ULEZ would endanger children’s lives.
It comes weeks after Sadiq Khan expanded his controversial policy to cover the whole of London – clobbering thousands more drivers with a £12.50 charge.
Between 1st April to 31 August, the Metropolitan Police have recorded 510 crimes relating to ULEZ cameras, with 351 of them being damaged and 159 stolen.
In the video, the ‘blade runner’ can be seen hauling himself up the pole
The vandal is then shown smoothly slicing away the device and letting it fall to the ground
It comes weeks after Sadiq Khan expanded his controversial policy to cover the whole of London – clobbering thousands more drivers with a £12.50 charge
Transport for London have stated that there are more than 3,400 ULEZ cameras in place across the London used to catch offending vehicles by scanning their number plates and charging £12.50 for any that are ‘non-compliant’.
READ MORE: Mobile Ulez cameras now come with their own ‘personal security’ as undercover car watches over van, while set of traffic lights are sawn in half in attack on Sadiq Khan’s ‘war on drivers’
In one part of southeast London, nine out of ten of the Ulez cameras have been vandalised according to crowd-sourced data. Only 29 of the 185 cameras that have been installed in Sydenham are working.
The expansion of the ULEZ has received opposition from campaigners who have claimed the £12.50 charge is a tax on the poor and working class who cannot afford to pay the charge or replace their older cars.
While most petrol cars registered after 2006 meet the emission standards, the RAC [via the DVLA] have concluded that 25% of cars, around 700,000, and a further 160,000 vans and lorries will be non-compliant.
The TfL spokesperson added: ‘Nine out of 10 cars seen driving in the zone won’t have to pay a penny and for any Londoner impacted, thousands of pounds of help is available.
‘There is also support in place for many NHS patients, including an NHS reimbursement scheme.
‘To help those driving the most polluting vehicles, the Mayor is committed to further improving public transport in outer London and launched the UK’s biggest ever scrappage scheme worth £160m.
‘TfL and the Mayor of London have expanded eligibility to support all Londoners and the capital’s smaller businesses, sole traders and charities in replacing their older, more polluting vehicles with greener options.
‘The scrappage scheme takes some of the dirtiest vehicles off the road, resulting in better air quality for everyone.
‘There is no need to purchase a brand-new vehicle to meet the standards.’
The video was posted and received more than 300 likes, 50 comments, and 32 shares with many people flooding to the comments online to congratulate the ‘lovable ninja’ on taking the ULEZ camera down.
One person commented on the video: ‘Love for this! [heart emoji] and the way it just smash[es] on the ground [two heart emojis].’
A second said: ‘Absolutely fantastic go blade runners [bicep tensing emoji, heart eye emoji, blue heart emoji]’.
Another said: ‘Like a lovable little ninja!!’
A fourth said: ‘Buy that man a pint [thumbs up emoji, smirking emoji, laughing emoji] Keep up the good work.’
A final put: ‘Bloody brilliant [starry eyed emoji] whoever you are thank you [heart emoji, ninja emoji, heart emoji].’
However one sarcastic commenter appeared to suggest it would endanger children’s lives. They said: ‘Heroic actions by a fellow child hater. Keep it up buddy, soon we’ll slaughter all those pesky kids.’
The Ulez zone expanded to include all of Greater London at the end of last month
Anti-Ulez campaigners, known as the Blade Runners, claim to have disconnected or destroyed at least 500 of the 2,700 static cameras
Vandals were out in force once again this week, with photos showing one camera on a set of traffic lights in Dartford, south-east London, had been knocked on to the pavement.
An earlier photo of the same camera, which was toppled in the night
Transport for London have suggested that drivers of non-compliant vehicles sign up to their Auto Pay system for free in order to avoid receiving a PCN.
This service, accessible online, automatically bills drivers when their vehicle travels within the Congestion Charge zone, LEZ and ULEZ.
READ MORE: Furious motorists destroy more ULEZ cameras across London in protest against Sadiq Khan – as one man scales ladders to block enforcement van
A TfL spokesperson said: ‘Vandalism is unacceptable and all incidents on our network are reported to the police for investigation.
‘Criminal damage to ULEZ cameras or vehicles puts the perpetrators at risk of prosecution and injury, while simultaneously risking the safety of the public. Camera vandalism will not stop the ULEZ operating London-wide.
‘All vandalised cameras are repaired or replaced as soon as possible. We have an extensive camera network which is sufficient to support the effective operation of the scheme.
‘Anyone driving a non-compliant vehicle within the expanded zone will be detected and we advise everyone to check whether their vehicle is compliant and to consider the various support that is available to help transition to greener modes of transport.’
While the Metropolitan Police declined to comment on an individual case, they issued a statement in August outlining their promise to continue to work with Transport for London to ‘proactively tackle the targeting of ULEZ cameras across London’.
Commander Owain Richards said: ‘These are clearly unacceptable acts of criminality and we have a team of officers investigating and identifying those responsible.
‘We are providing a proportionate policing response, balancing these incidents against the wide range of operational demand and crime we must respond to across London.
‘We are working closely with Transport for London and alongside our investigation into offences already committed we are supporting them identify new ways to prevent further cameras from being damaged or stolen.
‘We are continually reviewing where we need to focus our efforts and we will continue to do that over the coming weeks to ensure we are providing the service Londoners expect from us.’
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