Vandals Block London’s New ULEZ Cameras in Bold Protest
Shopping bags and cardboard boxes are popping up over TfL’s new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras all over London. More than 300 of these anti-pollution devices have just been installed, part of a whopping 2,750 planned before the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion launches on August 29.
One defiant vigilante even slapped a box over a camera reading “stop electing idiots”, sending a blunt message instead of just blocking the lens.
‘Tax on the Poor’ Sparks Outrage and Direct Action
The ULEZ charges £12.50 daily for older, polluting vehicles entering the zone—aimed at cleaning London’s air. But many Londoners are furious, branding it a money-making scheme that hits low-income drivers hardest.
Social media is buzzing with praise for those covering the cameras. “Absolutely love that locals have blanked the money-grabbing ULEZ cameras with bags and boxes,” tweeted Chris Rose. Others suggest clever tricks like tying weights to bags to keep them from blowing off.
Elliana Eaton lamented: “Yet another tax on the poor. So many people, especially the elderly, will become isolated—and it’s coming to Greater London in August. Outrageous.”
Police Use Spurs Privacy Fears as Cameras Vandalised Across Capital
Aside from TfL, the Met Police and British Transport Police can access ANPR footage to fight crime. This has stirred privacy concerns alongside the climate battle.
Vandals have escalated direct action, cutting wires and painting lenses black on cameras in Abbey Wood, Sutton, Catford, and beyond. Some units have even been ripped from their mounts and smashed. All moves aim to stop fines for drivers failing emissions standards.
Farmers Rally, Councils Prepare Legal Fight as ULEZ Expansion Divides the City
Tractors rolled through Orpington today, joining protests against what critics call Sadiq Khan’s extreme green crackdown. Gareth Bacon, Orpington MP, vowed to fight the charge: “This is punishing poor Londoners who can’t afford newer cars.”
Not every London borough is on board. Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, and Hillingdon councils plan legal action against the mayor’s ULEZ rollout. Meanwhile, Hounslow faces accusations of hypocrisy after backing the scheme yet seeking exemptions for its own vehicles.
Khan Defends Plans Amid Backlash and ‘Far-Right’ Claims
At a fiery Q&A in Ealing, Khan labelled some protesters as far-right or conspiracy theorists, sparking angry pushback from locals insisting they’re “just normal people.”
The mayor also revealed plans to explore using ULEZ cameras for a “pay-as-you-drive” toll system, akin to Singapore’s electronic road pricing. These future tolls would charge drivers by distance and peak traffic times—though the tech isn’t ready yet in London.
