The mounting cost of Ulez to taxpayers remains under wraps as Transport for London refuse to reveal how much they are having to spend replacing destroyed equipment used to implement the hated scheme.
Cameras and vans have become the target of activists as they are sprayed with paint or even toppled in an effort to halt the tax on drivers.
But the transport body say revealing how much they have had to spend replacing them could encourage vandalism.
They claim disclosing the cost would therefore be a risk to public safety as someone may be hurt in the act of destruction.
Slamming the move, Taxpayers’ Alliance – who campaign against wasteful governmental spending – said: ‘Taxpayers deserve to know the full cost of Ulez.’
In a response flagged to MailOnline, TfL said: ‘The TfL network is often the target of graffiti and other vandalism, and anything that encourages this or can be used to assist with this criminal activity is detrimental to our efforts to combat it.
The hated Ulez was expanded from August 29 this year. The decision has sparked a major backlash
Cameras and vans have become the target of activists as they are sprayed with paint or even toppled in an effort to halt the tax on drivers
The government agency say revealing how much they have had to spend replacing them could encourage vandalism. Pictured: A Ulez camera toppled in Hornchurch, East London
It comes as anti-Ulez ‘blade runners’ have said they will ramp up their action of wrecking cameras which use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to implement the charges. Pictured: A Ulez camera vandalised with foam in Ickenham, west London
‘There have already been several reported incidents of damage to our infrastructure in the media.
‘Our view is that release of the information requested would be likely to encourage further instances of copycat vandalism by making TfL assets a more attractive target for further vandalism as well as providing useful information to those who have previously and may wish to carry out these criminal attacks.’
It comes as anti-Ulez ‘blade runners’ have said they will ramp up their action of wrecking cameras which use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to implement the charges.
The radical group, who are opposed to Sadiq Khan’s flagship policy, have already attacked hundreds of cameras prompting the London Mayor to roll out vehicles to catch those flouting the rules.
And they said they will not stop until it is scrapped – with an initial aim of targeting 80 per cent of cameras in the next month.
Furious opponents of the vigilante vandals have also spurned the move by TfL to refuse the release of the cost of replacing cameras.
Twickenham Liberal Democrat councillor James Chard – who has backed the extension – says the public need to see how much destroying the cameras is costing them.
He said: ‘It would be appropriate for them to reveal the details of how much it is costing to repair these Ulez cameras because I think that that would give the public a view on the cost of the vandalism.
Furious motorists take part in an anti-Ulez protest in central London on Saturday September 23
‘Blade Runners’ say they have an initial aim of targeting 80 per cent of cameras in the next month. Pictured: A damaged camera in Harefield, north-west London
Twickenham Liberal Democrat councillor James Chard (pictured) – who has backed the extension – says the public need to see how much destroying the cameras is costing them
‘I don’t think that that would necessarily encourage it.
‘I think that it would make it clear to people that the individuals who are damaging the cameras are not being supportive of fellow Londoners – they are costing them a good deal of money.’
Since August 29, Ulez has been expanded from the North and South Circular roads to cover the whole of Greater London.
People who drive in the zone with a polluting vehicle and fail to pay the £12.50 daily fee are initially being sent warning letters.
But in the coming weeks TfL is expected to start issuing rule-breakers with £180 fines, which could rise to £250. If paid within 14 days, it is reduced to £90.
In their refusal to disclose the information, TfL continued: ‘We recognise the need for openness and transparency, and in particular where this relates to the maintenance of public assets and the effective expenditure of public funds.
‘In this case, it may also be of interest in enabling the general public to understand the extent of this problem on TfL’s road network.
‘However, we do not consider that there are any other public interest factors in favour of the disclosure of this information, which otherwise is only likely to be of interest to those who follow and/or commit vandalism.
Activists, one dressed as a dinosaur and another wearing a dog costume, mocked ULEZ officials during their peaceful protest last month
‘On the other hand, there is a very strong public interest in preventing further crime, in protecting the health and safety of individuals, and in protecting the commercial interests of TfL as a public authority.
‘Therefore, in this instance we feel that the balance lies in favour of withholding the information to ensure that we are able to minimise the number of potential incidents of vandalism incidents which could have considerable implications for law enforcement, public safety, and TfL expenditure.’
Last month, the ‘Blade Runners’ ramped up their campaign of vandalism trashing another ULEZ enforcement van.
Images showed one of the vehicles with its windows and windscreen smashed, in the latest escalation by activists determined to thwart Mr Khan’s much-loathed levy.
Video footage of the vandalism was shared on Facebook with the caption ‘The Bladerunners are not backing down’, with anti-Ulez activists mocking the criminal damage, hailing the vandalism as ‘amazing work’.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed earlier this month that they would investigate the incident.
A spokesman from the Met told MailOnline at the time: ‘We are aware of reports of damage to ANPR vans and are investigating. The Met has and continues to treat criminal activity in relation to Ulez seriously and has deployed considerable resources to our operation.
‘Where there are possible lines of enquiry, local investigators will follow up using a range of investigative approaches including CCTV trawls, witness searches and an assessment of forensic opportunities.
‘We are aware of posts on social media referencing Ulez cameras and techniques to disable them. If a report is made to police that someone has vandalised a camera, it will be investigated.’
TfL have been contacted for comment.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
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