Ultra Low Emission Zone

File:Sign for London ultra low emission zone (geograph 6183970).jpg

File:Contributors to London air pollution.png

Plans for an ultra–low emission zone were under consideration since 2014 under London Mayor Boris Johnson.{{cite news |author=Harvey |first=Fiona |author-link=Fiona Harvey |date=29 July 2014 |title=Diesel drivers may face higher costs in pollution battle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/29/diesel-drivers-may-face-higher-costs-pollution-battle |access-date=29 July 2014 |work=The Guardian}} Johnson announced in 2015 that the zone covering the same areas as the Central London congestion charge would come into operation in September 2020. Sadiq Khan, Johnson's successor, introduced an emissions surcharge, called the Toxicity Charge or "T-Charge", for non-compliant vehicles from 2017.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/17/london-to-introduce-vehicle-pollution-charge-in-october-says-mayor-sadiq-khan |title=London to introduce £10 vehicle pollution charge, says Sadiq Khan | first=Rowena |last=Mason | work=The Guardian | date=17 February 2017 | access-date=23 February 2017}}{{cite news |author=de Reytas-Tamura |first=Kimiko |date=17 February 2017 |title=A Push for Diesel Leaves London Gasping Amid Record Pollution |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/world/europe/london-smog-air-pollution.html?_r=0 |access-date=23 February 2017}} The Toxicity Charge was replaced by the Ultra Low Emission Zone on 8 April 2019, which was introduced ahead of schedule.

The zone was expanded to cover the Inner London area inside the North Circular and South Circular roads on 25 October 2021 so that it covers an area containing 3.8 million people.{{cite web |last=Roberts |first=Gareth |date=3 November 2017 |title=London Mayor confirms Ultra-Low Emission Zone will start in 2019 |url=https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/amp/news/fleet-industry-news/2017/11/03/london-mayor-confirms-ultra-low-emission-zone-will-start-in-2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725104307/https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/fleet-industry-news/2017/11/03/london-mayor-confirms-ultra-low-emission-zone-will-start-in-2019 |archive-date=25 July 2019 |access-date=24 July 2019 |website=Fleet News}}{{Cite news |last=Edwards |first=Tom |date=5 April 2019 |title=ULEZ: The politics of London's air pollution |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-47814416}} Around a million vehicles a day drive in the expanded zone, but Transport for London (TfL) estimated that 87% were already compliant with the emissions rules, meaning nearly 140,000 vehicles would have to be replaced or pay the charge, including 100,000 cars, 35,000 vans, and 3,000 heavy goods vehicles.{{Cite web |last=Lydall |first=Ross |date=14 May 2021 |title=Khan presses ahead with Ulez expansion set to hit 140,000 drivers |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/sadiq-khan-s-ulez-expansion-hit-thousands-london-drivers-b935139.html |access-date=25 October 2021 |website=Evening Standard}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2019-04-08/ultra-low-emission-zone-comes-into-force-in-central-london|title=Ultra-low emission zone comes into force in central London|date=7 April 2019|website=ITV News|access-date=25 October 2021}}

A month into the expansion, TfL said that the proportion of compliant vehicles had risen from 87% to 92%, and the number of non-compliant vehicles had fallen by over a third (from 127,000 to 80,000 on weekdays). They also said that 94% of cars complied compared to 78% of vans.{{Cite web |last=Lydall |first=Ross |date=10 December 2021 |title=Ulez expansion revealed to have cut 'dirty' vehicles by over a third |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/ulez-expansion-tfl-diesel-polluting-sadiq-khan-north-south-circular-b971107.html |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}

Six months after the expansion, TfL estimated that {{NOx}} in Inner London was 20% lower than it would have been without the expansion and found that 95% of cars and 83% of vans now met the standard.{{cite web | url=https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/londoners-breathing-cleaner-air-thanks-to-ulez | title=Millions of Londoners breathing cleaner air thanks to ULEZ expansion | date=19 July 2022 }}

The ULEZ was expanded on 29 August 2023 to cover all 32 London boroughs, bringing an additional five million people into the zone.{{cite news |last1=Topham |first1=Gwyn |title=Ulez to be expanded across whole of Greater London from August |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/nov/25/ulez-to-be-expanded-across-whole-of-greater-london-from-august |access-date=28 July 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=25 November 2022}} The new outer boundary coincides with the London low emission zone. It covers most of Greater London, with minor deviations to allow diversionary routes and facilities to turn around without entering the zone.{{Cite news |last=Ravikumar |first=Sachin |date=2023-08-29 |title=London's contentious clean air zone ULEZ extends to entire city |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/londons-contentious-clean-air-zone-extends-entire-city-2023-08-28/ |access-date=2023-08-29}}{{cite web |title=Map showing Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion from 29 August 2023 |url=https://lruc.content.tfl.gov.uk/ulez-londonwide-expansion-2023-long-dwell-map-v20.pdf |publisher=Transport for London |access-date=10 June 2023}}

In March 2022, TfL estimated that 20,000 to 40,000 vehicles would be taken off the road due to the expansion. Khan said: "This is also a matter of social justice – with air pollution hitting the poorest communities the hardest. Nearly half of Londoners don't own a car, but they are disproportionally feeling the damaging consequences polluting vehicles are causing."{{Cite web |last=Lydall |first=Ross |date=8 March 2022 |title=ULEZ to expand across all of Greater London |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/ulez-ultra-low-emission-zone-expand-greater-london-sadiq-khan-b986027.html |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}

The extended zone covers over 1,500km² and approximately 9 million people.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-31 |title=London-wide Ultra Low Emission Zone First Month Report {{!}} London City Hall |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/environment-and-climate-change/environment-and-climate-change-publications/london-wide-ultra-low-emission-zone-first-month-report |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=www.london.gov.uk |language=en}}

File:UK traffic sign LEZ ULEZ.svg

The £12.50 charge applies 24 hours a day every day of the year except Christmas Day (25 December).{{Cite web |website=Transport for London |title=Ultra Low Emission Zone |url=https://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone |access-date=7 June 2023 |language=en-GB}} The criteria for charging is based on European emission standards:

• Motorcycles that do not meet Euro 3 standards (most vehicles pre-2007)
• Petrol cars and vans that do not meet Euro 4 standards (most vehicles pre-2006)
• Diesel cars and vans that do not meet Euro 6 standards (most vehicles pre-2015)

Buses, coaches, and heavy goods vehicles must meet or exceed the Euro VI standard or pay £100 per day as part of the separate London low emission zone. Drivers entering central London who have paid for ULEZ are still subject to the London congestion charge.

The money raised from the ULEZ is invested in the transport network and other measures to reduce air pollution in London.{{Cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk//press-releases/mayoral/ulez-launches-in-central-london|title=World's first 24 hour Ultra Low Emission Zone starts in London|date=8 April 2019|website=Greater London Authority}} In 2022 the zone raised £224m in charges and fines. The income from ULEZ declined from month to month in 2022 as more vehicles entering the zone became compliant with emissions standards.{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Jacob |title=ULEZ: Charges and fines raised nine-figure sum in 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65778065 |website=BBC News |access-date=13 June 2023 |date=13 June 2023}}

Vehicles in the "disabled" tax class are exempt from the charge, as are London-licensed taxis, private hire vehicles which are wheelchair accessible, and historic vehicles (over 40 years old). There are also exemptions for agricultural vehicles, military vehicles, certain types of mobile cranes and non-road going vehicles which are allowed to drive on the highway (e.g. excavators).{{Cite web|url=https://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/discounts-and-exemptions|title=Discounts and exemptions |website=Transport for London}} Residents of the zone did not pay the charge until October 2021,{{Cite web |date=2023-08-29 |title=Ulez checker: Is your car exempt from the Ultra Low Emission Zone? |url=https://www.driving.co.uk/car-clinic/car-exempt-london-ultra-low-emission-zone/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Driving.co.uk from The Sunday Times |language=en-GB}} provided they were registered for the residents' Congestion Charge discount and met the T-Charge standards{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}.

There was a scrappage scheme to help those on income support or disability benefit to get rid of their old vehicle. This was used to scrap at least 12,000 vehicles. The original scheme offered up to £7,000 compensation for a car or van which had been operating in the congestion zone, plus up to £2,500 if this was replaced by an electric vehicle.{{cite web |title=Scrappage scheme for vans and minibuses |url=https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/scrappage-scheme |publisher=Transport for London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401235649/https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/scrappage-scheme |archive-date=1 April 2020}}

When ULEZ was expanded beyond the congestion charge zone, the compensation was reduced to £2,000 for cars with a limit for the number of vans and initially £15,000 for heavy vehicles. The Mayor said on 14 October 2021 that there was less than £2 million left in the £61 million fund.{{Cite web |last=Lydall |first=Ross |date=15 October 2021 |title=London's ULEZ scrappage scheme running out of cash |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/london-ulez-scrappage-scheme-runs-out-of-cash-b960672.html |access-date=25 October 2021 |website=Evening Standard}} This paid out over £61 million by 2022.

The rates for the scrappage scheme from 4 August 2023 were announced at the end of July 2023. Receipt of child benefit was added to the criteria for eligibility. £2,000 is offered for scrapping a car and £1,000 for a motorcycle. £5,000 is offered for wheelchair accessible vehicles to scrap or retrofit to make compliant. Part of the scrappage payment can be converted to an annual bus and tram pass. Grant payments of between £5,000 and £9,500 are available for scrappage or retrofit of vans and minibuses used by small businesses, sole traders and charities.{{cite web |title=Scrappage scheme |url=https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/scrappage-schemes |website=Transport for London |access-date=28 July 2023}} The scheme was later widened to all Londoners and small businesses able to scrap up to three vans instead of one, taking effect from 21 August 2023.{{cite news |last1=Vickers |first1=Noah |title=Sadiq Khan opens Ulez scrappage scheme to all Londoners in £50m boost |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/sadiq-khan-scrappage-scheme-ulez-ultra-low-emission-zone-all-londoners-b1098579.html#comments-area |access-date=4 August 2023 |work=Evening Standard |date=3 August 2023}}

In November 2021, a study from the Centre for Transport Studies in Imperial College London found the ULEZ caused smaller reductions in air pollution emissions than had been reported.{{Cite journal |last1=Ma |first1=Liang |last2=Graham |first2=Daniel J |last3=Stettler |first3=Marc E J |date=16 November 2021 |title=Has the ultra low emission zone in London improved air quality? |journal=Environmental Research Letters |volume=16 |issue=12 |pages=124001 |bibcode=2021ERL....16l4001M |doi=10.1088/1748-9326/ac30c1 |issn=1748-9326 |s2cid=244169411 |doi-access=free}}{{Cite web |title=London's Ultra Low Emission Zone resulted in only 'marginal' air quality improvements shortly after it was introduced |url=https://news.sky.com/story/londons-ultra-low-emission-zone-resulting-in-only-marginal-air-quality-improvements-12469903 |access-date=9 December 2022 |website=Sky News |language=en | date=16 November 2021}} It stated that there has been a longer-term downward trend in London's air pollution levels and argued that the ULEZ on its own is not an effective strategy.{{Cite web |last=Bayley |first=Sian |date=23 July 2019 |title=London pollution: High levels detected by 40% of capital's air quality |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/futurelondon/cleanair/high-pollution-levels-detected-by-40-of-londons-air-quality-sensor-networks-a4196811.html |website=Evening Standard}} The Greater London Authority had been funding other work at the College since July 2020, including the Environmental Research Group.{{cite news |last1=Daly |first1=Patrick |title=Sadiq Khan accused of trying to 'squash' scientific 'dissent' over Ulez |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sadiq-khan-ulez-city-hall-frank-kelly-london-b2396312.html |access-date=24 August 2023 |work=The Independent |date=21 August 2023}} Freedom of Information requests published in August 2023 showed Shirley Rodrigues, the deputy mayor for environment and energy, and Frank Kelly, Director of the Environmental Research Group, corresponded in November 2021 about mitigating the impact of the research.{{Cite news |date=21 August 2023 |title=Ulez: London Mayor accused of 'quashing research' questioning the scheme |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-66570024 |access-date=23 August 2023}}

Further research found that ULEZ has significantly reduced air pollution: a pair of 2022 studies found that within the first year of the zone's establishment, nitrogen dioxide levels had been reduced by 12% compared with the previous year, with reductions already evident within the first 90 days.{{cite web | first=Bob |last=Ward|website=London School of Economics Grantham Research Institute |title=The truth about London's Ultra Low Emission Zone |url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/news/the-truth-about-londons-ultra-low-emission-zone/ | date=24 August 2023| access-date=4 October 2023}} Between 2019 and 2022, the amount of nitrogen oxide emissions in London dropped by 13,500 tonnes, which was equivalent to all emissions from landings and takeoffs at Heathrow Airport and London City Airport during the same period.{{Cite news |last1=Topham |first1=Gwyn |last2=correspondent |first2=Gwyn Topham Transport |date=2023-12-28 |title=London Ulez averts more air pollution than that caused by capital's airports, report shows |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/28/london-ulez-averts-more-air-pollution-than-that-caused-by-capitals-airports-report-shows |access-date=2023-12-28 |issn=0261-3077}}

A 2025 report from Transport for London and the Greater London Authority found that, in 2024, nitrogen dioxide levels were 27 per cent lower across the city than they would have been without ULEZ and its expansion, with a drop of 54 per cent in central London. Particulate matter exhaust emissions from cars and vans were estimated to be 31 per cent lower in outer London as a result of the zone's expansion.{{cite web |title=London-wide Ultra Low Emission Zone One Year Report |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/environment-and-climate-change/environment-and-climate-change-publications/london-wide-ultra-low-emission-zone-one-year-report |website=www.london.gov.uk |publisher=London City Hall |access-date=7 March 2025 |language=en-gb |date=7 March 2025}}

The number of non-compliant vehicles entering the zone each day dropped from 35,578, in March 2019, to 26,195 in April of the same year, after the charge was introduced.{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Matthew |date=16 May 2019 |title=ULEZ cuts number of worst polluting cars in central London |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/16/ulez-cuts-number-of-worst-polluting-cars-in-central-london |via=}} The number further dropped to 23,054 in July 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/central_london_ulez_4_month_report.pdf|title=Central London Ultra Low Emission Zone - Four month report |website=Greater London Authority}} The proportion of vehicles which complied with the standards rose from 61% in March 2019 to 74% in September 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/ulez_six_month_evaluation_report_final_oct.pdf|title=Central London Ultra Low Emission Zone - Six Month Report|website=Greater London Authority}} It further rose to 85% in December 2020, including 90% for cars, and the number of non-compliant vehicles dropped to around 12,000 (of which 4,000 were exempt from the charges).{{Cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/new-tighter-lez-standards-for-hgvs-in-london|title=New tighter Low Emission Zone standards for HGVS introduced in London|date=March 2021|website=Greater London Authority}}{{cite web |title=ULEZ Online Fact Sheet |url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/ulez-online-factsheet-oct20-dec20.pdf |website=Transport for London |access-date=25 October 2021}}

The total number of vehicles entering Central London each day also dropped from over 102,000 in February 2017 to 89,000 in April 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk//press-releases/mayoral/almost-three-quarters-complying-with-new-standards|title=First month of Mayor's ULEZ sees 74 per cent of vehicles comply|date=16 May 2019|website=Greater London Authority}}

In Outer London, the percentage of compliant vehicles rose from 85% in May 2022 when the consultation for expansion was announced, to 90.9% in June 2023 and further jumped to 95.2% in September 2023 following the beginning of charging.{{cite web |url= https://www.london.gov.uk/new-report-shows-ulez-expansion-working-95-cent-vehicles-across-inner-and-outer-london-now-compliant |title=New report shows ULEZ expansion is working with 95 per cent of vehicles across inner and outer London now compliant with clean air standards }}

An April 2024 report stated that diesel sales in London were declining significantly faster than in other areas of the country, with a decline of roughly 40% over four years.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-16 |title=London diesel fuel sales falling at twice the pace of rest of UK |url=https://www.transportenvironment.org/discover/london-diesel-fuel-sales-falling-at-twice-the-pace-of-rest-of-uk/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=Transport & Environment |language=en}}

The planned expansion of ULEZ into outer London was cited as the reason for the Conservatives' Steve Tuckwell's victory over Labour's Danny Beales in the 2023 Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election, despite substantial swings against the Conservatives in all three by-elections held the same day.{{Cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Helen |last2=Badshah |first2=Nadeem |last3=Sullivan (now) |first3=Helen |last4=Badshah (earlier) |first4=Nadeem |date=21 July 2023 |title=Byelection results: Conservatives retain Uxbridge and South Ruislip in close finish over Labour; Lib Dems sweep Somerton and Frome |language=en-GB |work=the Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2023/jul/20/byelection-results-conservatives-labour-lib-dems-somerton-frome-uxbridge-south-ruislip-selby-ainsty-uk-politics-latest-news |access-date=21 July 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}

Only one in 200 London residents have been affected by the ULEZ expansion, according to a Freedom of Information request filed by BBC London eight months after the expansion.{{Cite web |last=insidecroydon |date=2024-04-15 |title='The dog that didn't bite': how ULEZ has become a non-issue |url=https://insidecroydon.com/2024/04/15/the-dog-that-didnt-bite-how-ulez-has-become-a-non-issue/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Inside Croydon |language=en-US}}{{Unreliable source?|date=May 2024|reason=Links to someone's Wordpress page, BBC reference is nowhere to be found.}}

File:Anti-ULEZ Poster in Orpington.jpg, southeast London, expressing opposition to the 2023 expansion of the ULEZ to cover Outer London]]

File:Anti-ULEZ Graffiti in Carshalton.jpg, southwest London, expressing opposition to the 2023 expansion of the ULEZ to cover Outer London]]

Writing in 2019, the BBC's transport correspondent Tom Edwards described the Ultra Low Emission Zone as "one of the most radical anti-pollution policies in the world".{{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=Tom |title=ULEZ: The most radical plan you've never heard of |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-47638862 |access-date=26 March 2019 |work=BBC News Website |publisher=BBC}} A poll in April 2019 by YouGov found that 72% of Londoners supported using emissions charging to tackle both air pollution and congestion.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/08/londoners-back-charging-dirty-drivers-says-air-pollution-study-ulez|title=Londoners support charging 'dirty' drivers, says air pollution study|first1=Matthew|last1=Taylor|first2=Amy|last2=Sedghi|newspaper=The Guardian |date=8 April 2019|via=www.theguardian.com}} However, the Federation of Small Businesses said that many small firms were "very worried about the future of their businesses" as a result of the "additional cost burden".{{Cite news |date=8 April 2019 |title=ULEZ: New pollution charge begins in London |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-47815117}}

Ross Clark, writing in The Spectator, argued in 2022 the expansion would disproportionately impact poorer Londoners, who were more likely to own an older, non-compliant vehicle that would be subject to the daily charge.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Ross |date=25 November 2022 |title=Sadiq Khan's Ulez expansion punishes the poorest |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/sadiq-khans-ulez-expansion-punishes-the-poorest/ |access-date=9 December 2022 |website=The Spectator |language=en-US}} TfL found that 60% of those who responded to its public consultation into the expansion plans were opposed, as well as 70% of outer London residents and 80% of outer London workers.{{Cite news |date=25 November 2022 |title=ULEZ: Ultra Low Emissions Zone to cover all of London |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-63754724 |access-date=9 December 2022}}{{Cite news |last1=Gill |first1=Oliver |last2=Holl-Allen |first2=Genevieve |date=25 November 2022 |title=Sadiq Khan plans London toll roads as electric car use rises |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/11/25/whole-london-hit-ulez-expansion-ordered-sadiq-khan/ |access-date=9 December 2022 |issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite web |title=Improving air quality and Londoners' health, tackling climate change and reducing congestion |url=https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/cleanair |access-date=9 December 2022 |website=Have Your Say Transport for London |language=en}}

Polling in July 2023 showed a plurality of London residents said they supported the expansion of the ULEZ in London, with residents in Outer London evenly split.{{cite web |author1=R&WS Research Team |title=Plurality of Londoners Support Expanding London's Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) |url=https://redfieldandwiltonstrategies.com/plurality-of-londoners-support-expanding-londons-ultra-low-emissions-zone-ulez/ |website=Redfield & Wilton Strategies |access-date=22 July 2023 |date=13 July 2023}}

In May 2023, a coalition of Bexley Council, Bromley Council, Harrow Council and Hillingdon Council in Greater London with neighbouring Surrey County Council, all Conservative-led, received permission from the High Court for a legal challenge to the August 2023 expansion into outer London. The permitted grounds for the claim were "failure to comply with relevant statutory requirements" and "unfair and unlawful consultation". Two further grounds concerned the scrappage scheme, "whether the mayor properly considered the previous "buffer zone" approach as a material consideration" and "irrationality due to uncertainty and inadequate consultation".{{cite web |title=High Court gives green light to further grounds for challenge in ULEZ expansion judicial review |url=https://www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/litigation-and-enforcement/400-litigation-news/53977-high-court-gives-green-light-to-further-grounds-for-challenge-in-ulez-expansion-judicial-review | first=Adam |last=Carey| website=Local Government Lawyer |access-date=18 June 2023 |date=30 May 2023}} The hearing began on 4 July{{cite news |last1=Lydall |first1=Ross |title=High Court fight to block Ulez expansion into outer London gets under way |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/ulez-expansion-high-court-judicial-review-london-b1092014.html |website=Evening Standard |access-date=4 July 2023 |date=4 July 2023}} and the case was decided on 28 July 2023, when the court found the outer expansion to be lawful.{{cite web |last1=Slawson |first1=Nicola |title=Sadiq Khan wins high court battle over London Ulez extension |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2023/jul/28/high-court-ulez-london-boroughs-conservatives-labour-rishi-sunak-keir-starmer-uk-politics-latest |website=The Guardian |access-date=28 July 2023 |date=28 July 2023}}{{Cite news |first=Harry |last=Low |date=28 July 2023 |title=Ulez expansion across London lawful, High Court rules |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66327961 |access-date=28 July 2023 }}

File:Destroyed ULEZ camera 2024-08-19.jpg.]]

Since 2023, the cameras that enforce ULEZ have come under a campaign of organised vandalism by people who oppose it. The group, calling themselves "Blade Runners", told the Daily Mail they intend to destroy all ULEZ cameras.{{cite news |last1=Simpson |first1=Jack |title=Ulez backlash forces Met to launch operation to target camera thieves |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/04/met-operation-target-camera-thieves-london-ulez-expansion/ |access-date=14 September 2023 |work=The Telegraph |date=4 August 2023}} Speaking to Julia Hartley-Brewer on TalkTV, a man claiming to be the campaign director of the group and identifying himself as "Captain Gatso", described the group's activity as "unpaid voluntary work for the community" taking "defensive offensive action" against present and past governments. By September 2023, attacks on cameras had extended to slashing tyres and spraying graffiti onto camera vans.{{cite news |last1=Lancefield |first1=Neil |title=Ulez camera vans vandalised and put out of use as opponents take direct action |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ulez-camera-vans-vandalised-london-ultralow-emission-zone-expansion-b2410721.html |access-date=17 September 2023 |work=The Independent |date=13 September 2023 |language=en}}

At the start of August 2023, the Metropolitan Police launched "Operation Eremon" to coordinate investigations into the vandalism. By 30 August, 288 crimes relating to ULEZ cameras had been reported, and two arrests made.{{cite news |last1=Bullen |first1=Jamie |last2=Somerville |first2=Ewan |title=Watch: Anti-Ulez 'Blade Runner' vigilantes vandalize cameras in London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/30/ulez-vandals-say-damaging-cameras-is-voluntary-work/ |access-date=14 September 2023 |work=The Telegraph |date=30 August 2023}} On 22 September 2023, a further arrest was made.{{cite news |last1=France |first1=Anthony |title=Man, 52, arrested as police probe nearly 800 Ulez camera crimes |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/man-arrested-metropolitan-police-ulez-camera-crime-sadiq-khan-london-b1110888.html |access-date=4 October 2023 |work=Evening Standard |date=4 October 2023}} On 4 October 2023, it was reported that Laurence Fox had been arrested by police on suspicion of conspiring to commit criminal damage to ULEZ cameras.{{Cite web |title=Laurence Fox arrested over 'ULEZ conspiracy' - and sacked by GB News |url=https://news.sky.com/story/laurence-fox-arrested-after-video-showing-police-in-his-home-shared-on-social-media-12976589 |access-date=4 October 2023 |date=4 October 2023 |website=Sky News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Topping |first=Alexandra |date=4 October 2023 |title=Laurence Fox arrested over comments urging people to vandalise Ulez cameras |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/04/laurence-fox-arrested-over-comments-urging-people-to-vandalise-ulez-cameras |access-date=4 October 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Chantler-Hicks |first=Lydia |date=4 October 2023 |title=Laurence Fox sacked from GB News as he's arrested for calling for Ulez vandalism |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/laurence-fox-arrested-fired-gb-news-ulez-cameras-dan-wootton-b1111343.html |access-date=4 October 2023 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}

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