UK Conspiracy Theorists Damage Traffic Scanners, Believing Them to Be Surveillance Weapons

Vandalism in Ilfracombe

In Ilfracombe, Devon, an older woman was filmed cutting wires on traffic lights, supported by a man and others filming. This incident, which occurred on August 28, led to the arrest and bail of a woman in her 60s and a man in her 70s on suspicion of criminal damage and causing danger to road users.

Conspiracy Theories Fuel Attacks

The individuals involved are part of a movement, some calling themselves "Blade Runners," who believe traffic scanners are sinister devices. They claim these scanners are "phased array electronic assault weapons" designed for mass surveillance and capable of causing cancer, dementia, and sudden death. This belief mirrors previous attacks on Ulez cameras and 5G towers, which were also driven by conspiracy theories.

Widespread Incidents

Ilfracombe is not an isolated case. In May, nearly 200 traffic detector units were damaged in Cambridge, prompting a police appeal. In the same month, 10 units were vandalized in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, with the local council dismissing the conspiracy claims as "ridiculous." A pensioner in County Durham is also facing trial for allegedly damaging units on eight sets of traffic lights.

Expert Perspective

Professor Susan Grant-Muller of the University of Leeds's Institute for Transport Studies finds the hostility towards traffic scanners puzzling. She notes that this technology, in its basic form, has existed since the late 1970s. The activists typically target the scanner units, not the core traffic light systems.