Girl, 6, injured in crash after ULEZ ‘vigilantes’ tear down traffic lights at busy junction – as cops slam vandals

POLICE have slammed vandals who tore down an ULEZ camera after a six year old girl was injured in a car crash at the same spot.

The cameras on top of traffic lights were vandalised on Monday morning in the Orpington area of Kent.

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The scene at this morning’s crash in OrpingtonCredit: SWNS

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Blade runner Ulez vandals have used a sticker of London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s face to block the hated camerasCredit: SWNS

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An adult and six-year girl were taken to hospitalCredit: UKNIP

But now cops have blamed the vandals after a six year old girl was injured in a car crash at the spot were one of the ULEZ cameras was damaged.

Senior offices have now called on the vandals to stop targeting the cameras following an accident involving a child at 8.30am today on Court Road.

An adult and a six-year-old girl, were taken to hospital to be treated for head injuries. Their condition has been assessed as non life-threatening.

Anti-ULEZ protesters – known as ‘Blade Runners’ have vowed to take down all of the cameras put up in London’s outer boroughs in recent months which hit non-compliant cars with a daily £12.50 charge.

Chief Inspector Priya Shome, based in Bromley, said: “We are investigating the criminal damage to five sets of traffic lights in the Orpington area which has caused major traffic management issues.

“Two police units, who should have been available to answer 999 calls, were instead required to spend the morning managing traffic.

“The people who are carrying out this criminal damage are putting the public at risk.

“This morning, there has been a collision between two cars on Court Road, at the location of one of the damaged traffic lights, in which a child was injured.

“I would urge the people carrying out these crimes to stop immediately and think about the danger they are causing to road users.”

The ULEZ was expanded to every London borough in September and its cameras snare non-compliant cars with a daily £12.50 charge.

As a general rule, most petrol cars made before 2006 and Diesel cars produced before 2015 have to pay the fee.

Last month yobs targeted one camera with a home made bomb, which sparked an investigation by counter-terrorism police.

The blast in Sidcup, South East London, blew the transformer box across the street into a construction manager’s van.

The ULEZ rules in London

The Ultra Low Emission Zone, or ULEZ, initially covered the Congestion Charge zone in central London, from the eastern edge of Hyde Park out to around Aldgate.

In October 2021, this changed and expanded to cover all parts of London within the North and South Circular roads.

Plans to greatly expand the ULEZ were ruled lawful by the High Court at the end of July 2023.

The expansion, which covers all Greater London boroughs was then put in place from August 29, 2023.

The ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 364 days a year – excluding Christmas Day on December 25.

Older vehicles that don’t meet tight emissions standards have to pay £12.50 every day they are used within the ULEZ.

The charge runs from midnight to midnight, meaning drivers will be charged for two days if their journey starts before midnight and travels into the next day.

Generally, pre-2015 diesels and pre-2006 petrol cars, as well as pre-2007 motorbikes, face the fees.

To drive in the ULEZ, petrol cars must meet the Euro 4 standards on emissions, and diesels, as well as larger vehicles, must meet the Euro 6 standards.

Failure to pay the ULEZ charge will result in a fine of £160 for cars, vans and motorbikes. This will be reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days.

You can check online whether your vehicle complies with the low emissions standards or if you need to pay the ULEZ charge.

The check simply requires a driver inputting their vehicle’s number plate into the TfL website.

This can also be done at ulez.co.uk.

All vehicles constructed before 1 January 1973 are exempt from the ULEZ charge.

Owners of vehicles that are more than 40 years old can apply to be added to the historic vehicle tax class, meaning they do not need to pay the fees.

All fully electric cars are exempt from the ULEZ charge, regardless of age, but hybrid cars must follow the same rules as petrol and diesel vehicles.

Minibus drivers for a charity or school – excluding private schools – can also register for a limited grace period, but only until October 29, 2023.

A neighbour’s wall was hit by shrapnel while another had a window shattered.

The Met’s Det Chief Supt Trevor Lawry said: “This was an extremely dangerous incident.”

Another witness told how a bus was passing by at the time of the blast and narrowly avoided being hit by debris.