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New vigilante eco group targets electric SUVs across the UK and deflates HUNDREDS of tyres

New vigilante eco group targets electric SUVs across the UK and deflates HUNDREDS of tyres 2

Were you targeted by The Tyre Extinguishers?

Get in touch at [email protected] 

A newly-formed group of climate change zealots who let down SUV tyres across the UK last night have been targeting electric vehicles in their air pollution campaign.

The group, calling themselves The Tyre Extinguishers, indiscriminately targeted 4x4s regardless of whether they were fuelled by petrol, diesel or even electricity.

They say their aim is to ‘make it impossible to own an SUV in the UK’s urban areas’ because they create ‘unnecessary luxury emissions, flaunted by the wealthy’. 

The activists argue they are acting as ‘concerned citizens’ by deflating tyres on hundreds of SUVs in what they called ‘well-to-do areas across the UK’ last night, including London’s Chelsea, Belgravia, Clapham and Notting Hill.

Other areas outside of the capital include Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge and Edinburgh.

Targeted vehicles were then slapped with a lengthy leaflet, detailing the group’s motives, telling drivers not to ‘take it personally’ and lecturing them on why they should use public transport.

One electric 4×4 owner who was targeted last night claims he went to great lengths to research the environmental impact of his vehicle before purchasing it.

A new eco mob calling themselves Tyre Extinguishers claim they targeted hundreds of SUVs across the UK last night and let air out of the tyres in a bid to have them banned from roads

A new eco mob calling themselves Tyre Extinguishers claim they targeted hundreds of SUVs across the UK last night and let air out of the tyres in a bid to have them banned from roads

Pictured: William Lowe's tyre, muddy from its use on a farm, was reduced from 50psi to 7psi

Pictured: William Lowe’s tyre, muddy from its use on a farm, was reduced from 50psi to 7psi

William Lowe, from Cambridge, told MailOnline: ‘I was just leaving the house this morning ironically to attend a sustainability and waste reduction meeting when I noticed the tyres on my electric 4×4 had been deflated and I found their leaflet on my windscreen.

‘I was lucky enough that I had the means to reinflate the tyre at my house so it was only a mild inconvenience which set me back on my day but nevertheless it was very frustrating.

‘We use it for its intended purpose as we have to visit a farm at least twice a week which would otherwise be impossible for a normal car.

‘This is by far the car with the lowest carbon footprint. We were very conscious about that. We’ve been responsible and went to great lengths to research the environmental impact – it’s not like I just purchased the cheapest option.

‘It definitely seemed like the group are using a blunt tool to tackle what is actually a complex problem.’

Mr Lowe, who runs a family-owned gin distillery and owns a Land Rover e-SUV, said he agrees that environmental challenges need tackling but that this is the wrong way to go about it.

A car was targeted in Duchess Street, London

A car was targeted in Duchess Street, London

This car was targeted in Duchess Street, London, by the Tyre Extinguisher eco activists

He added: ‘I’m obviously sympathetic to their cause. The environmental situation is dire and needs answering but it’s a complex and nuanced situation that minor acts of vandalism show no signs of improving.

‘This is an important cause but they seem aligned with Extinction Rebellion who are uniquely placed to rally people against the cause they’re trying to unite people behind.’ 

One woman affected posted a photograph of her electric Mercedes-Benz EQC on Twitter as she urged the group to ‘think before you act’.

She wrote: ‘You let down my tyres and I didn’t notice until I started driving with my three children in my car. My car is fully electric.

‘We also had a child that required to be at the hospital for an appointment in the city. Thankfully we had a second car.’

SUVs feature elements of standard cars but are larger and have off-road capabilities such as high ground clearance.

Petrol and diesel-powered models are generally less fuel efficient than cars.

Last year, one of the UK’s most popular selling cars was a Kia Sportage SUV, according to Auto Express.

Is deflating someone’s tyre a crime in the UK? 

Legal experts say that although prosecution is unlikely, the activists could actually be committing a criminal offence.

Laura Baumanis, a criminal defence solicitor at legal defence firm Olliers, told MailOnline: ‘Whilst it is extremely rare for someone to be prosecuted for letting the air out of a tyre, technically, it could be classed as criminal damage.

‘For this offence to be satisfied, any damage caused does not have to be permanent, but is made out by virtue of the fact that steps need to be taken, ordinarily at expense to the owner, for the item to be in a working condition again.’

Meanwhile, Matthew Nash, tutor at The University of Law, said if the driver failed to notice the flat tyre and drove away, more serious charges could be brought it they crashed.

He said: ‘Letting out air from someone’s tyres is clear criminal damage.

‘Although technically the tyre is not ‘damaged’, if you do something to someone else’s property and they need to do something to restore it, that is Criminal Damage within the meaning of the Criminal Damage Act.

‘It is possible that if they let the air out of someone’s types so as to cause an accident, there could be more serious charges depending on the resulting damage or injury.

‘It is also possible that there could be other offences if this were done to many cars at the same time.’

Three police forces have confirmed they are investigating multiple reports of criminal damage in Brighton, Liverpool and Cambridge. 

SUVs emit 25 per cent more carbon dioxide on average than a medium-sized car, and have jumped in popularity in the UK from nearly seven per cent of private cars sold in the UK in 2009 to more than 21 per cent in 2018, according to the UK energy Research Centre.

The New Scientist reported how global analysis found the rise of SUVs last year wiped out the environmental gains from electric cars.

The eco fanatics are actively encouraging people to join their cause and are directing people to websites which demonstrate how to deflate someone’s tyres. 

Marion Walker from The Tyre Extinguishers said: ‘Governments and politicians have failed to protect us from these massive unnecessary vehicles.

‘SUVs are a climate disaster, they cause air pollution and are dangerous for other road users. Everyone hates them, apart from the people who drive them.

‘Politely asking for climate action, clean air and safer streets has failed. It’s time for action.

‘We have no leader – anyone can take part, wherever you are. Join us.’

The leaflets left on vehicles make little mention of those who have chosen to drive electric vehicles bar one line at the end which reads: ‘Driving a hybrid or electric? These are still polluting, dangerous and cause congestion.’

A hybrid SUV owner who was targeted last night says his day was upended as he was meant to be moving house this morning.

Neil Longuet-Higgins, from Brighton, told MailOnline: ‘I got in my car and drove about 10 yards down the road when I noticed a leaflet on the windscreen and thought I must have got a parking ticket.

‘At that point, there were warning lights about the flat as well and I realised what had happened so I drove gingerly about 200 yards so I could park up and thought well I can’t wait around because I’m meant to be meeting movers at 8am.’

Mr Longuet-Higgins says he was forced to drive carefully to the nearest garage but after trying two, was unsuccessful due to faulty pumps and so was forced to call out AA.

He says the ordeal set him and his movers back about two hours and left him out of pocket. 

He added: ‘Because I had driven on it, I damaged the tyre so it’s going to cost me £250 to get it replaced.

‘It’s just a waste of everyone’s time. I had a diesel before and got rid of it because of the harm to the environment.

‘I use the 4×4 on all terrains so its not like it’s a Chelsea tractor – it’s ideal for what I use it for so I don’t see why I should be punished.

‘I think they will end up alienating most people – it disrupts ordinary people’s lives.’

Chris Genner, from Brighton, also drives an electric SUV and wrote a complaint to the Tyre Extinguishers. He told MailOnline he intends to review CCTV and hand any evidence over to the police.

He added: ‘I was surprised but more so disappointed as whilst my vehicle may look like an SUV, it is an electric version which I purposely chose – and paid more for – for its environmental benefits.’

The group papered targeted vehicles with this lengthy leaflet (pictured), lecturing drivers on why they should get rid of their 'gas guzzling SUVs' and use public transport instead

The group papered targeted vehicles with this lengthy leaflet (pictured), lecturing drivers on why they should get rid of their ‘gas guzzling SUVs’ and use public transport instead

Pictures shared by the group show that they left leaflets on the vehicles they targeted which told drivers to use public transport.

The leaflet reads: ‘Attention – your gas guzzler kills. You’ll be angry, but don’t take it personally. It’s not you, it’s the car.

‘We did this because driving around urban areas in your massive vehicle has huge consequences for others.’

Calling SUVs ‘pure vanity’, it tells the driver they will ‘have no difficulty getting around without your gas guzzler, with walking, cycling or public transport.’ 

The Tyre Extinguishers claim air pollution is racist because people of colour live in areas more likely to be exposed to toxic air and ‘SUV drivers tend to be richer and therefore tend to be white’.

The group cite the International Energy Agency’s findings in 2019 which reported that SUVs are the second largest cause of the global rise in carbon dioxide emissions over the past decade.

They also claim SUVs are more dangerous because they are more likely to kill a pedestrian and cite unknown psychological studies which found SUV drivers take more risks, ‘putting other road users and pedestrians in danger’. 

In a statement shared this morning, it adds: ‘SUVs exist purely for the vanity of their owners, who see them as a status symbol.

New vigilante eco group targets electric SUVs across the UK and deflates HUNDREDS of tyres 3

‘For the sake of this vanity and conspicuous consumption, climate change is made worse, we breathe in polluted air, and more people die in accidents. This is unacceptable.’ 

Calling on a ban on SUVs in urban areas, pollution levies to tax SUVs ‘out of existence’ and ‘massive investment in free, comprehensive public transport’, the eco mob say they will continue until politicians take action.

The respective police forces have been contacted for comment.

A spokesperson for the Met said: ‘We are aware of a statement by Tyre Extinguisher alleging damage to vehicles at various locations in London by them.

‘We ask that reports of this nature are made through the Met’s website and we will assess these to establish whether offences have been committed.

‘At this time, we are not aware of any investigations being launched.’

Cambridgeshire Constabulary is treating three reports of air being let out of tyres as suspected criminal damage.

A spokesman said: ‘We have received three reports of flat tyres in the Cambridge area. Crimes have been raised for criminal damage and an investigation is ongoing.’

Avon and Somerset Police couldn’t find any relevant incidents in Bristol.

Sussex Police is appealing for CCTV footage which could help their investigation after multiple drivers reported their cars had been targeted by The Tyre Extinguishers.

Cars parked in five roads near a school in Green Party constituency Brighton were hit by the eco warriors during the early of hours.

A spokesman for the force said: ‘On Tuesday morning (March 8) police received multiple reports from the Brighton area from members of the public who found the tyres on their cars had been deflated.

‘It’s thought the vehicles in Balfour Road, The Drive, Lowther Road, Maldon Road and Newells Close were targeted during the early hours of the morning.

‘Enquiries are ongoing, and anyone with information or who has video footage from the area which could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to police online or call 101 quoting serial number 111 of 08/03.’

Merseyside Police is launching high visibility patrols in the Liverpool suburb of Allerton after a number of cars were targeted by The Tyre Extinguishers.

A force spokesman said: ‘We are appealing for information after tyres on a number of cars were reported to have been let down in Allerton overnight.

‘We received a number of reports on Tuesday morning (March 8) reporting members of the public finding their tyres had been deflated on streets off Allerton Road and Rose Lane.

‘It is believed the vehicles on streets including Courtland Road, Edale Road, Addingham Road and Hillside Road were targeted in the early hours of the morning.

‘Enquiries are ongoing, and high visibility patrols will be deployed in the area affected.’

Were you targeted by Tyre Extinguishers? Email [email protected] 


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