Eye-watering sum of contracts Sadiq Khan has given to companies to chase motorists who do not pay Ulez penalties
LONDON Mayor Sadiq Khan has given contracts worth £151.8million to companies to chase motorists who do not pay Ulez penalties and other road fines.
Four firms are briefed to track down those skipping the controversial £12.50 daily charge for polluting cars.
They have been tasked with compiling lists of persistent evaders, even those living abroad, and even gathering intelligence on specific groups, contract details show.
The squads of debt collectors are also targeting those that do not pay parking tickets, congestion charge and other motoring penalties.
Outstanding ultra low emissions zone penalty notices stood at £255million at the end of last year.
Drivers face fines of £180 for failing to pay the Ulez charge — rising to £250.
One bailiffs’ contract for £34.6million is aimed specifically at chasing non-payers overseas.
A second worth £117.2 million has been shared between three companies — debt recovery firm Marston, enforcement agency Bristow and Sutor, and bailiffs JBW.
Transport for London contract details say it wants Marston plus Bristow and Sutor to provide a monthly “persistent evader” report.
JBW’s says it wants the company to “participate in intelligence-led enforcement activities targeting specific individuals or groups”.
The ten-year contracts began in 2020, a year after the Ulez charge was introduced in central London.
It was controversially extended in August to include all of Greater London, sparking protests from those with older cars who say the daily levy is financially crippling.
TfL said companies chasing debts “generated their own revenue through fees that are included as part of the enforcement process”.