Police hunt man in hard hat and high-vis over Ulez camera theft in crackdown on so-called Blade Runners

18 August 2023, 09:38

Police are looking for a man dressed as a construction worker over thefts of Ulez cameras
Police are looking for a man dressed as a construction worker over thefts of Ulez cameras. Picture: Alamy/Metropolitan Police

By Will Taylor

Police are hunting a man who wore a high-viz jacket and hard hat to fiddle with a Ulez camera as it cracks down on vandalisation.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The devices track cars entering the low emissions zone and charge drivers £12.50 a day if their vehicle doesn't comply with standards.

They are being targeted by so-called "blade runners" opposed to Sadiq Khan's scheme which will soon cover all of London.

It has triggered an arms race between vandals who are finding ways to attack cameras that are usually placed on poles several feet off the ground and authorities who have resorted to cladding some in armour.

Read more: Keir Starmer clashes with Sadiq Khan over Ulez as he insists there are 'other ways' to cut pollution

Police branded the damage "unacceptable" and vowed to find those behind hundreds of anti-Ulez crimes, which include reports of theft of the cameras and damage to their cables.

Detectives released a photo of a man wearing a hard hat and a high-viz jacket working who was pictured on CCTV fiddling with a Ulez camera.

Police are seeking this man in relation to thefts of Ulez cameras
Police are seeking this man in relation to thefts of Ulez cameras. Picture: Metropolitan Police

Officers want to speak to him over the theft of the cameras.

"These are clearly unacceptable acts of criminality and we have a team of officers investigating and identifying those responsible," the Met's Commander Owain Richards said.

"We are providing a proportionate policing response, balancing these incidents against the wide range of operational demand and crime we must respond to across London.

"We are working closely with Transport for London and alongside our investigation into offences already committed we are supporting them identify new ways to prevent further cameras from being damaged or stolen.

"We are continually reviewing where we need to focus our efforts and we will continue to do that over the coming weeks to ensure we are providing the service Londoners expect from us."

Read more: 'Absolute hatred!': Mother of four discusses Ulez after Keir Starmer and Sadiq Khan clash

Some Ulez cameras have been armoured in a bid to protec them from the scheme's opponents
Some Ulez cameras have been armoured in a bid to protec them from the scheme's opponents. Picture: Alamy
Normal Ulez cameras remain targets
Normal Ulez cameras remain targets. Picture: Alamy

A total of 288 crimes related to Ulez cameras have been recorded by the Met, including 185 instances of cables being damaged, 164 cameras being stolen and 38 reports of the devices getting obscured.

Some of those crimes could overlap and relate to one camera.

Vandals who wreck the cameras have dubbed themselves "blade runners" and vowed to keep attacking them for as long as it takes.

"We are going to take down every single one no matter what," one anti-Ulez "blade runner" said earlier in the year, claiming he had brought down at least 30 by April.

"Snipping, damaging with hammers, painting, disabling on a circuit level and removing. They are unbolted and they are snipped.

"The tools they use to install them are the ones we use to remove it. We don't want this. It's a way to try to... restrict our movements.

The scheme is hated by opponents as yet another tax on drivers
The scheme is hated by opponents as yet another tax on drivers. Picture: Alamy

"F*** them. It will not happen because we haven't done anything to deserve it."

Recently, footage emerged of a Ulez opponent damaging them with a pole and and cutters at dark.

A group of people eating at a restaurant watch on but nobody challenges him as he tackles two cameras.

The Met has launched a dedicated operation to stop the vandalism called Eremon.

Sadiq Khan is expanding Ulez to cover all of London from August 29. He recently won a High Court case after Tory councils challenged him.

'I'm simply unwilling to delay' Ulez expansion, says Sadiq Khan as financial aid is announced

The mayor of London believes Ulez is vital to tackling air pollution in the capital and preventing premature deaths.

He has claimed most vehicles seen on London's streets in an average day are compliant and earmarked tens of millions of pounds in additional funding to expand a scrappage scheme.

That is designed to help people, businesses and charities with upgrading non-compliant cars.

But the scheme has proved so controversial even Sir Keir Starmer has refused to offer it support, instead saying cities need to find ways of tackling air pollution that don't affect the worst-off.

The Tories turned the election campaign in Boris Johnson's old seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip into a referendum on Ulez, holding on to it by hundreds of votes when other by-elections proved to be bruising defeats.

It has led Conservatives to consider whether they should aim to be more pro-motorist to win more support amid dreadful opinion polls ahead of the next election.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Social media footage showed a man being kicked on the ground by his knife-wielding attacker.

Two charged by police after shock footage shows man kicked and spat at by knifeman after ‘burning Koran’ in London

Jannik Sinner

World tennis number one Jannik Sinner handed three-month ban for doping

Keith Edun, 47, used the messaging app “Kik” to spread vile images of children

Predator who encouraged man to rape a baby after sharing vile images of children online is jailed for 21 years

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during the 61st Munich Security Conference on February 15, 2025 in Munich, Germany.

Zelenskyy calls for creation of ‘European army’ as he warns Russia 'will pull Europe apart' if not defeated

The woman who said she was raped by rappers and business moguls Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2000, when she was 13, has dropped her civil lawsuit against both men.

Woman who accused Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of raping her when she was 13 drops lawsuit

Liam Payne died last Wednesday.

One Direction star Liam Payne was 'sectioned' after near-fatal overdose months before death, close friend claims

Hamas hands over 3 Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip to Red Cross

Israeli hostages paraded on stage before being freed - as four Palestinian prisoners released in 'critical condition'

uk british national lottery euromillions ticket with picks

Winning numbers revealed as single UK EuroMillions ticket holder scoops massive £65million Valentine’s Day jackpot

The Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt

Manhunt launched after woman seriously injured at village pub in Valentine's Day 'shooting'

Rob and Lindsey Burrow a few weeks before he died

Rob Burrow's wife reveals heartbreaking moment she knew rugby league star 'couldn't go on' with MND struggle

Axel Rudakubana will be 'target number one' in prison

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana's sentence won't be referred to Court of Appeal despite claims it's 'unduly lenient'

The damaged shield

'Risk of radioactive leak' after Russian 'high explosive' drone hits Chernobyl, causing 'significant damage'

The fire broke out at the Chiltern Firehouse

Fire engulfs celebrity haunt Chiltern Firehouse as 100 evacuated from luxury hotel

Trump confirms he will meet Starmer in Washington 'in the next few weeks'

Trump to meet with Starmer in Washington 'in the next few weeks' - as JD Vance slams Europe in fiery speech

Both Meghan and Kate shared Valentine's pictures

Harry and Meghan share sweet Valentine's photo after William and Kate also post romantic picture

Jaden Sheriff.

Man found guilty of killing ex-girlfriend's neighbour over 'blue balls', sentenced to life imprisonment