Furious locals chased away a Ulez crew – some of whom were driving Sadiq Khan‘s mobile ‘spy’ vans used to enforce the scheme.
Footage of the incident shows angry locals ejecting the Ulez team from Sunningvale Avenue, in Biggin Hill, southeast London.
Activists opposed to Mr Khan’s flagship policy – which last month expanded to cover the entire city – have already attacked hundreds of static cameras prompting the London Mayor to roll out a fleet of vehicles to catch those flouting the rules.
But these too have become a target, with opponents to the Ulez – who call themselves ‘Blade Runners‘ – slashing their tyres, spray painting cameras and smashing windows.
Anti-Ulez activists held a yellow high visibility jacket in front of one of the cameras while locals berated the Ulez workers.
Furious locals chased away a Ulez crew – some of whom were driving Sadiq Khan ‘s mobile ‘spy’ vans used to enforce the scheme
Footage of the incident shows angry locals ejecting the Ulez team from Sunningvale Avenue, in Biggin Hill, southeast London
Activists opposed to Mr Khan’s flagship policy – which last month expanded to cover the entire city – have already attacked hundreds of static cameras prompting the London Mayor to roll out a fleet of vehicles to catch those flouting the rules. Pictured: One of the Ulez cameras was seen felled today on Hacton Lane in Hornchurch, Havering
One woman told the workers: ‘It’s wrong and you know it’s wrong.’
A man added: ‘Why don’t you bugger off, you’re not wanted around here, or needed.
‘You’re just taxing the normal man, the working man. Now go away. Don’t come back.’
The workers did not reply as they packed up their gear and drove away from the village in Bromley.
As they departed, relieved locals clapped and cheered.
One woman told the workers: ‘It’s wrong and you know it’s wrong.’ A man added: ‘Why don’t you bugger off, you’re not wanted around here, or needed’
One local told the Ulez workers: ‘You’re just taxing the normal man, the working man. Now go away. Don’t come back’
The workers did not reply as they packed up their gear and drove away from the village in Bromley
As the Ulez crew finally departed (pictured), relieved locals clapped and cheered
The video came as ‘Blade Runners’ ramped up their campaign of vandalism trashing yet another one of the vans last week.
Images show one of the Ulez vehicles with its windows and windscreen smashed, in the latest escalation by activists determined to thwart Mr Khan’s much-hated levy.
Video footage of the vandalism was shared on Facebook with the caption ‘The Bladerunners are not backing down’, with anti-Ulez activists mocking the criminal damage, hailing the vandalism as ‘amazing work’.
As well as blocking the ULEZ van’s view with a truck, protesters also put a sign saying “ULEZ scam” in front of the camera
But the incident is now being investigated by the Metropolitan Police, with the force today hitting out at the vandals.
A spokeswoman from the Met told MailOnline: ‘We are aware of reports of damage to ANPR vans and are investigating. The Met has and continues to treat criminal activity in relation to Ulez seriously and has deployed considerable resources to our operation.
‘Where there are possible lines of enquiry, local investigators will follow up using a range of investigative approaches including CCTV trawls, witness searches and an assessment of forensic opportunities.
‘We are aware of posts on social media referencing Ulez cameras and techniques to disable them. If a report is made to police that someone has vandalised a camera, it will be investigated.’
Last week, videos emerged showing Blade Runners wrecking one of the Ulez vans in Maiden Lane, Crayford, plastering it with graffiti and slashing its tyres.
The same van was also pictured wrapped in a huge blue bag covering it down to the wheels.
It was posted with the message: ‘Can we all send our thoughts and prayers to this poor ULEZ spy van that’s looking rather… deflated.’
Anti-Ulez campaigners have turned their fire on mobile camera vans trying to enforce the rules
One social media post showed a van being towed away on a recovery truck
Meanwhile, terrified road workers have resorted to making crude handmade signs in an apparent bid to not be targeted by Blade Runners.
Although the mobile cameras can only detect incompliant vehicles while stationary, they can move between boroughs to be deployed at hotspots including near Heathrow airport.
People who drive in the zone with a non-compliant vehicle and fail to pay the £12.50 daily fee are initially being sent warning letters.
In the coming weeks Transport for London (TfL) is expected to start issuing rule-breakers with £180 fines, which will reduce to £90 if paid within 14 days.
A TfL spokesman added: ‘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.’
Passerby Chris Thorn spotted a highway maintenance truck parked on double-yellow lines in Biggin Hill in Bromley on Monday morning with a ‘NOT ULEZ’ sign hastily attached to the vehicle
Last week, a set of Dartford traffic lights was completely cut in half in an anti-ULEZ attack
Hundreds of Ulez cameras across the capital have been damaged by vigilantes, who have cut wires on the equipment and sprayed the lenses with paint
Anti-ULEZ campaigners, known as the Blade Runners, claim to have disconnected or destroyed at least 500 of the 2,700 static cameras
Last week another so-called ‘Blade Runner’ was hailed a ‘hero’ online after taking a mobile camera van out of action by pretending to breakdown in front of it.
The activist filmed himself parking his red Renault Captur directly behind an enforcement van in London and opened his car boot as if he was in need of roadside assistance – while also placing a warning triangle on the ground.
The positioning of the car directly behind the automatic number plate camera on top of the van meant it could not catch rule-breakers on the capital’s roads.
The video notched up more than a million views on TikTok.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk