London. Mass sabotage of surveillance cameras

Le Matin (Switzerland), August 18, 2023

London police reported on Friday that hundreds of cameras had been sabotaged in the run-up to the controversial extension of the tax on the most polluting vehicles, scheduled for the end of the month in the British capital. Restricted to central London when it was introduced in 2019, the ULEZ (ultra low emission zone) had already been considerably expanded in 2021 and is due to be extended to the whole of Greater London on August 29.

The extension of the tax, in the midst of the UK’s cost-of-living crisis, has been strongly criticized by local residents, and some opponents are attacking the cameras placed on the roads – which are supposed to read license plates to check that the vehicle is exempt or that the tax has been paid.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said it had recorded 288 offences related to the ULEZ cameras by August 1, mainly damaged cables and camera thefts. The police had begun their investigation in April, after Transport for London, the agency that installed the cameras, reported cases of theft and vandalism among the 2,750 cameras installed to cover the new taxable areas.

“These are clearly unacceptable criminal acts and we have a team of officers investigating and identifying those responsible,” Owain Richards of the Met Police said in a statement. Police have also released a picture of a man they are trying to trace for four offences committed in northwest London on June 17.

Despite criticism from the Conservative government and leaders of his own party, London’s Labour mayor Sadiq Khan is defending the extension of the tax, which is designed to improve air quality. Drivers of petrol cars generally manufactured before 2006 (Euro 4 standard) and diesel vehicles generally manufactured before 2015 (Euro 6 standard) must pay 12.50 pounds (16 fr. 50) per day to enter the zone concerned, or face a fine of 180 francs. Trucks and coaches must pay 100 pounds (112 fr.) per day. Cabs are exempt.

Black pins relate to stolen cameras and blue pins show damaged cameras

via: sansnom

Translated and some extra images by Act for freedom now!