A ULEZ camera van in Sidcup has been vandalised in opposition to the Mayor of London’s expansion scheme.

One picture, which was taken on September 12, shows the front window of the electric vehicle in Cray Road covered in graffiti.

The vehicles are being used to ensure anyone driving a non-compliant car is paying a daily charge of £12.50.

Cameras on the vans are using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology to identify vehicles.

A spokesperson for Transport for London said that vandalism is unacceptable, and all incidents are reported to the police for investigation.

They added that damage to ULEZ cameras or vehicles puts the perpetrators at risk of prosecution and injury, while also risking the safety of the public.

The spokesperson explained: “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.”

People who drive in the zone with a non-compliant vehicle and fail to pay the £12.50 daily fee are initially being sent warning letters.

In the coming weeks TfL is expected to begin issuing £180 fines, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.

There were 510 crimes relating to ULEZ cameras reported between the start of April and the end of August, figures released by the Metropolitan Police show.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who made the decision to expand ULEZ to the whole of London from August 29, previously warned people attacking cameras that “protest should be lawful, safe and peaceful”, adding: “It is really important to stay on the right side of the law.”

The full statement from TfL says: “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.

“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.”