ULEZ: Traffic lights cut in half in attack on ‘spy camera’

A set of traffic lights was discovered completely cut in half on Wednesday (September 20) in an anti-ULEZ attack.

A driver, who did want to be named, said they were on the school run in Dartford, Kent, when they spotted the damage.

The lights at a crossing on Crayford Way are seen spliced in half with electrical wires exposed.

A red sticker on the post reads "ULEZ spy camera" with an arrow pointing upwards, referring to London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, introduced by Sadiq Khan.

A Transport for London (TfL) spokesperson said damaging cameras or vehicles “puts the perpetrators at risk of prosecution and injury, while simultaneously risking the safety of the public”.

The damage has divided people online, including anti-ULEZ supporters, with some seeing it as a risk to pedestrians who need to use the crossing. Some welcomed the news, with positive comments including: "Beautiful", "Oh dear, how sad, never mind", and "Bravo".

While other comments were not so encouraging of the action:

• “Stop cutting down traffic lights. Just cut the camera."
• "All this is great but in the long run it's us who will have to pay for replacements."
• "Why not just cut the camera off instead of the whole pole. Traffic lights and pedestrian crossing lights still needed!"
• "Now that's just stupid ..get the camera..yes . But traffic lights at a crossing ffs ..kids and the old use that for safety."

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."

Kent Police referred enquiries about the incident to the Met Police, which has been approached for comment.