Met crackdown on crime with 154 arrests in less than a week
A Metropolitan police crackdown on crime has seen over 154 drug and weapon arrests and a further 62 reports of Coronavirus restriction breaches in less than a week.
The arrests included one man who was stopped carrying 250 wraps of suspected Class A drugs, and another man with a large hunting knife in his trousers following a stop and search.
Proactive units across the Met, plus the Essex, Sussex, Surrey and Thames Valley police forces worked together to stop drug dealers and high harm offenders.
Between Tuesday last week until the early hours of Saturday, officers used Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology on motorways and roads connecting London to regional areas to stop vehicles linked to drugs and county lines gangs.
Coordinated by the Violent Crime Task Force, more than 100 officers and staff took part in the efforts spanning five counties, named Operation Pandilla.
Today the Met announced that the operation resulted in:
– 154 arrests by the Met for offences including possession of an offensive weapon and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs
– 62 individuals were reported for consideration for a Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) for breaching coronavirus regulations.
– 49 knives and weapons removed from London’s streets
– 27 vehicles seized
– 78 separate incidents resulting in various quantities of drugs being recovered
– 18 individuals referred to DIVERT, an intervention programme aimed to reduce re-offending
Acting Inspector Pete Luciano, of the Violent Crime Task Force, said: “Drugs and violence devastate lives and destroy communities, therefore operations such as this are imperative in our drive to make communities safer.
“Since the pandemic, offenders have relied on vehicles to enable their criminality compared with other modes of transport, and we have adapted our tactics to respond to this change.
“We will not stop in our determination to make London safer for everyone. I believe it is the best city in the world.
“Last year in London, there was a 26 per cent reduction in violence, however we are not complacent.
“The issue of drugs and violence spans wider than the capital and we must continue to work as one, sharing information and intelligence – a method we know is successful.
“The results from this operation show there is an undeniable link between drugs and violent crime.
“We are absolutely committed to build on work with our partners to remove illegal drugs and weapons, arrest those who cause destruction through their criminality and protect the most vulnerable.”
If you have any information about knife crime you can contact police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 – your anonymity is guaranteed.
If you are worried about someone you suspect may be carrying a knife or other weapon, advice and support is also available through organisations including Knife Free and Fearless.