Laurence Fox has been released from police custody after being arrested on suspicion of conspiring to damage Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) cameras and encouraging others to rip them down.
The actor was reportedly seen leaving the Croydon Custody Centre on Wednesday night. He was said to be smoking a cigarette while travelling as the passenger in a car, reports the Telegraph.
In a statement, The Reclaim Party, which is led by Fox, said: “Laurence has been released from custody and wants family and friends to know he is safe and well and on the way home. He will be in touch tomorrow.”
Fox was said to have been arrested when five police officers turned up at his home address in London. He shared a video of the incident on social media platform X.
In it he says: “Look how many coppers there are in my house. Look at them coming to steal everything and take it out of my house.”
Hours after his arrest, Fox’s employer GB News announced it was sacking him. It came after controversial comments he made about political journalist Ava Evans.
Fox, 45, was arrested after widespread vandalism aimed at the ULEZ cameras. The scheme has recently been expanded across all London boroughs by Mayor Sadiq Khan.
A group of anti-ULEZ activists known as the Blade Runners have been targeting the cameras. They are used to enforce the £12.50-a-day charge on some vehicles.
The group’s name comes from a dystopian 1982 sci-fi film. In it, the Blade Runners are tasked with hunting down and killing fugitive human replicants.
Speaking to The Telegraph, former Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: “It was completely over the top having five police officers go to his house, but I was told as an MEP that lawmakers must not be lawbreakers. While Laurence isn’t an elected politician, he does lead a political party and you can’t encourage or be an accessory to crime.”
The Metropolitan Police revealed there had been 795 crimes relating to the cameras in the six months leading up to the end of September. Of these, 595 were reports of damage and 200 theft.
Fox carved a successful career as an actor playing Sergeant James Hathaway in detective drama Lewis. Although he is now widely known for his political views.
A Met Police spokesman said: “Officers arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of conspiring to commit criminal damage to Ulez cameras and encouraging or assisting offences to be committed. He was arrested in Stockwell and has been taken to a south London police station where he remains in custody.”
A statement shared by Reclaim Party on X read: “This morning Laurence Fox was arrested at his home in London and has been taken to a Police Station. No further updates will be provided until more information is available.”
