ENVIRONMENTAL activists are continuing to deflate tyres on SUVs across the city, almost two months after they first struck.
Tyres have been deliberately deflated in Preston Park area of Brighton overnight by a group called the Tyre Extinguishers.
A photo shared with the Argus shows a Volkswagen with a deflated front tyre.
The Tyre Extinguishers claim to have deflated tyres on nearly 2,000 SUVs across the country in the past four weeks.
The group said its supporters have taken action in cities across Britain in an attempt to “make it impossible” to own the vehicles in urban areas.
CAMPAIGN SPREADS ACROSS THE UK… AND TO THE USA!
— The Tyre Extinguishers (@T_Extinguishers) March 17, 2022
This week: Chiswick, Maida Vale, Wood Green, Muswell Hill, Brighton, Hove and Manchester. More planned and first indications of it spreading overseas, with reports of action in northern Colorado, USA:https://t.co/YQPMfMJvgr pic.twitter.com/XYaMkUWvL2
It describes SUVs as “a climate disaster”, “dangerous” and “unnecessary”.
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.
The Tyre Extinguishers describes itself as “leaderless” and encourages people to take action by reading instructions on how to deflate tyres on its website.
People can also print off leaflets to leave on the windscreen of affected vehicles to inform drivers what has happened.
Activists are urged to avoid SUVs “clearly used” by people with disabilities or by tradespersons.
The group, which first took action on March 7, said in a statement: “So far, the Tyre Extinguishers have disarmed nearly 2,000 SUVs in the UK, in Brighton, London, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Bristol and Edinburgh, in repeated actions.
“Plans are being made to launch the Tyre Extinguishers leaflet in four other languages as interest grows internationally.”
Sussex Police have issued CCTV footage showing two people it wants to trace in connection with tyres being deflated in the city.
Marion Walker, a spokeswoman for the Tyre Extinguishers, said: “Unless a bobby is posted beside every SUV in the country 24 hours a day, we don’t expect anyone to be apprehended.
“Better to break the law than allow these killer vehicles to continue to be used on our streets.”
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