The locations where ULEZ cameras and traffic lights have been cut down in the Orpington area have been revealed by police.

This follows a crash on Court Road yesterday in the same place as where traffic lights and a ULEZ camera had been cut down.

Police were called to the scene at around 8.30am and an adult and six-year-old, were taken to hospital in a non-life threatening condition.

There are currently damaged ULEZ cameras and traffic lights in these locations:

  • Court Road/Spur Road junction
  • Court Road/Old Priory Road junction
  • Court Road/High Street junction
  • Cray Avenue/High Street junction
  • Station Road/Station Approach junction

Chief Inspector Priya Shome, based in Bromley, said: "We are investigating the criminal damage to five sets of traffic lights in the Orpington area overnight 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."

 On Facebook, many Orpington residents shared their thoughts on the spate of ULEZ cameras cut down across the area recently.

Many people shared the opinion that, while they understand the desire to protest the ULEZ expansion, it becomes dangerous when it starts to affect traffic lights.

One resident was concerned about children crossing roads on their way home from school without being able to wait until the red light stops cars from driving past.

Others were advising people to contact police when they see them to make sure that temporary lights can be put in place as soon as possible.

One Facebook user even branded the idea as “idiotic” saying that it is going to cause “carnage” and accidents if it carries on.

Another agreed, saying that it is “sad” that people would put their protests against ULEZ before the safety of those in their area.

A TfL spokesperson said: “Vandalism is unacceptable and all incidents on our network are reported to the police for investigation. Criminal damage to ULEZ cameras or vehicles puts the perpetrators at risk of prosecution and injury, while simultaneously risking the safety of the public.

“We are aware of a collision today (Thursday, January 18) between two cars at the location of a vandalised traffic light, and our thoughts are with the two people who were injured.

“Camera vandalism will not stop the ULEZ operating London-wide. All vandalised cameras are repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

“We have an extensive camera network which is sufficient to support the effective operation of the scheme.

“Anyone driving a non-compliant vehicle within the expanded zone will be detected and we advise everyone to check whether their vehicle is compliant and to consider the various support that is available to help transition to greener modes of transport.

“We work hard to keep people safe and to keep traffic moving and we urgently attend to all reports of traffic signal outages.

“We are working to ensure that these traffic lights in Orpington are fixed as quickly as possible.”