More than 300 cameras installed for London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) were vandalised or stolen between April and August, the BBC can reveal.
TfL is planning to install a total of 2,750 cameras before the expansion comes into force at the end of August.
Abbie Mires, who works in the area, said the "harsh action" of targeting Ulez cameras was justified.
Husband and wife, Roy and Linda McKensie had to get rid of two cars ahead of the Ulez expansion, but said they did not agree with cameras being tampered with.
The only figure the BBC has seen was an estimate cost of the planned expansion from November 2022, which was about £159.5m based on assumptions at that time.
This includes spend for systems design, development and testing; on-street infrastructure design, procurement and delivery including camera installation and signage; marketing and media campaign; and legal and consultation costs.
I hope they'll just be repaired, I'd imagine people won't keep doing it for that long, only at the moment because it's new. Eventually they'll become used to it.
The UK has one of the highest numbers of surveillance cameras per person, this is just a fact of life that people are used to. The ULEZ cameras are typically ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), the government already know what cars you own and how polluting they are. You can't deny that these low emission zones are decreasing air pollution and London needs it. The attacks on the cameras are because they are adding surveillance but because it is £12.50p per day if your car does not meet standards so is an added "tax" for living in London which is being forced on the local councils with little thought for the individual circumstance.
There is a Channel 4 show a while ago called Hunted which mimics the levels of surveillance the police have to track contestants down, it is both scary and interesting how much they can work out and track down.
If it was about health, Sadiq Khan would be doing something about the terrible pollution in the underground. But that pollution isn't from cars, so he doesn't care.
If you object to surveillance you should have objected about 20 years ago.
This is nothing to do with surveillance and everything to do with people wanting to go to drive their massive 4x4 around in a city.
I get why they're not happy about it, but at the same time sod them and their NIMBY attudes. The reason that these laws are necessary is because people will insist on buying stupid massive cars that do 8 miles to the gallon.
OR drive Diesels without particle filters fitted.
There is zero evidence that the information stored by ULEZ is anything more than the registrations of cars that are more dangerous than is acceptable. If you are part of the 90% of people who drive cars within the standard then there is no need to keep the information on file.
ULEZ is about particulates, not gas guzzling. Unfortunately, it won't take many SUVs off the road. It affects petrol cars registered before 2006 and diesels before 2015.
90% of cars (and 95% of trips) are already compliant. There is a scrappage scheme to help people switch to a compliant model.
Yes, fuck surveillance. Driving is licensed and regulated. If you don't want to be tracked, leave your phone at home and wear suitable clothing. Ride a bike or walk.