Laurence Fox has appeared in court to deny encouraging vandalisation of ULEZ cameras in London with a string of social media posts and a podcast.
The former actor turned activist, 46, is accused of encouraging his followers on X, formerly Twitter, to support so-called ‘Blade Runners’, who were conducting a campaign of destruction to enforcement cameras.
Fox is accused of publicising financial reward for criminal damage and allegedly suggesting he himself would be going out to “tear down the cameras”.
At Westminster magistrates court on Friday, Fox appeared in the dock in front of Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring to plead not guilty to “encouraging the commission of an either way offence”.
The court heard he is accused over three social media posts and a podcast appearance in September and October 2023.
The charge sets out that Fox is accused of social media posts which were “capable of encouraging the commission of an either way offence, namely encouraged damages of ULEZ cameras and threatening to cause or destroy criminal damage to ULEZ Cameras within the London boroughs”.
The judge sent the case to be dealt with at Croydon crown court, with a preliminary hearing set for June 14.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone was launched by Mayor Sadiq Khan in 2019 to improve air quality and reduce emissions in the capital.
Cameras are used to record drivers' number plates, which then get checked against a database, to see if the vehicles are ULEZ compliant.
In August 2023, ULEZ was expanded to cover all 32 boroughs to tackle congestion and air pollution-related health issues.
The expansion faced substantial opposition, particularly in outer London boroughs, and a campaign by some to vandalise the enforcement cameras.
Announcing the criminal charge, a Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Laurence Fox, 46, of Peldon, Essex, will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 16, charged with intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence.
“The charge relates to posts made on a social media site between September and October 2023.”
Fox spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and his not guilty plea, while his address was given as his solicitors in central London.
He was released on bail until the next hearing.
