The Metropolitan Police is investigating nearly 100 cases of criminal damage and vandalism to CCTV cameras installed for ULEZ, London’s ultra-low emission zone, which is to be extended to outer London, including Croydon and Sutton, in August this year.
Cameras are coming: ULEZ cameras being installed in Coulsdon, at the bottom of Woodcote Grove Road
The extent of the vandalism by anti-ULEZzers was revealed last night after criminal charges were brought against a 42-year-old man from Sidcup for damaging traffic monitoring cameras.
The Evening Standard reported that Joseph Nicolls, of Foots Cray High Street, has been charged with criminal damage, malicious communications and handling stolen goods, as well as aiding or abetting the destruction of, or damage to, property valued over £5,000.
Nicolls appeared at Bromley Magistrates Court on Thursday. The Metropolitan Police has not disclosed how many allegations of damage to ULEZ cameras Nicolls faces.
Around 300 new ULEZ cameras are being installed across outer London, in preparation for the zone being extended beyond the South and North Circulars as far as the boundaries of Greater London. TfL expects to spend £60million to £75million on cameras and road signs, and for the total cost of the expansion to be between £130million and £140million.
Driving in the expanded ULEZ zone will cost those without an emissions-compliant vehicle £12.50 per day, although TfL says that 9-in-10 cars in outer London already meet the standards and so will not be subject to any charges.
The Met Police say that overall, 96 allegations of criminal damage had been passed to the force by Transport for London – twice the extent of vandalism against the cameras than TfL had previously admitted, according to the Standard.
The Police have launched an operation to tackle the ongoing damage to cameras.
Det Supt Daniel Smith, whose officers are leading the investigation, said: “We have been proactively targeting those we suspect of causing or seeking to cause damage.
“We are carrying out a thorough investigation and this includes gathering CCTV, speaking to potential witnesses and following up active leads.
“We are also working with TfL to prevent further offences in the future.”
Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD 4279/10MAY.
Read more: Time to take a walk and witness the damage we’re all causing
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It’s a shame the police don’t have the same amount of zeal when it comes to assaults on women
or people who defraud the public purse.
Or theft from cars, burglaries and other anti-social crimes.
Or the stabbings and killings of our young people.
Funny how some people think that it isn’t a crime if it happens when you’re in a car or you’re doing it on behalf of the petrolheads.
As Margaret Thatcher said, “crime is crime is crime”. That applies to criminal damage, driving too fast or too close or both, killing someone “by accident” or on purpose, etc, etc, etc.
Rarely does that involve crimes against the normal resident.
Strangely if you are a developer and builder the actual amount of crimes you can get away with defy belief and are classed as civil crimes.
If you are a driver and hit a person and state they jumped out in front of you thats fine even if the person you hit then reverse then hit again and reverse then hit again and that person is registered disabled, physically unable to jump let alone move at any speed whatsover is irrelevant. Just many of the anomolies pervading the justice system today