A man from Bexley has been arrested as the Metropolitan Police has revealed the huge number of crimes relating to ULEZ cameras since April this year (2023).

On Friday, September 22 a 52-year-old man was arrested in Bexley on suspicion of criminal damage.

The man was taken to a south London police station before being released on bail until December 19 pending further enquiries.

The arrest is part of an ongoing operation launched in May relating to the criminal damage of ULEZ cameras.

From April 1 to September 23 this year, the Met Police received 795 reports of crimes in relation to damaging ULEZ cameras.

This included 200 reports of cameras being stolen and 595 cameras being damaged.

The Met Police has said that criminal activity in relation to ULEZ continues to be taken seriously and that local investigators can follow-up using a range of approaches such as CCTV trawls, witness searches and forensic opportunities.

As a result of this operation, two other individuals have been arrested, one charged and bailed for trail to June 2024 while the other was discontinued by the CPS.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “From April 1 to  September 30, the Met recorded 795 crimes relating to ULEZ cameras.

“This includes 200 reports of cameras being stolen and 595 cameras being damaged.

“On Friday, 22 September, a 52-year old man was arrested in Bexley on suspicion of criminal damage. He has been bailed until 19 December pending further enquires.

“The arrest is part of an ongoing operation launched in May in relation to the criminal damage of ULEZ cameras.

“The man was taken to a South London police station for questioning, before being released on bail..

“In May, an operation was launched by the Met to ensure a proportionate approach was in place to relation to ULEZ-related crimes.

“Please also note that a recorded crime can include multiple offences.

“The Met 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.

“To date, Met investigations have led to the arrest of two other individuals, one charged and bailed for trial to June 2024 and the other discontinued by the CPS.”