News —
Met makes hundreds of arrests in week-long gang violence crackdown
An operation targeting and disrupting gang violence in South London has seen nearly 300 arrests and 38 dangerous weapons seized.
The major week-long crackdown across Lambeth and Southwark saw officers execute warrants, conduct stop and searches to remove dangerous drugs and weapons from the streets and apprehend known gang members who have contributed to rising, serious youth violence in the area.
Action was taken in Lambeth and Southwark due to a rise in gang-related tensions and a number of serious, high-profile incidents in recent months.
Activity was intelligence led, with both plainclothes officers and firearms patrol units deployed throughout the week to track down and arrest offenders known for carrying the weapons and dealing the drugs that are fuelling organised crime in the area.
The operation resulted in:
- A total of 297 arrests, resulting in 238 charges for offences including possession of dangerous weapons, possession and supply of Class A drugs and attempted murder.
- 233 stop and searches were carried out, which led to 40 arrests.
- 13 weapons sweeps, which contributed to the seizure of 38 dangerous weapons, including knives and firearms.
Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, who led the week-long operation, said:
“This activity is part of an ongoing campaign to drive down violence and make our neighbourhoods safer. That sustained approach is already delivering results, with knife crime down by 18 per cent across Lambeth and Southwark.
“But we know that despite this success, gangs continue to do harm to London’s communities. In recent weeks and months, more families have had to endure the unimaginable pain of losing a loved one to senseless violence.
“We do not want to see another life lost which is why we’re so determined to keep taking robust action.
“Those driving serious violence across London should be under no illusion. We are targeting them relentlessly, and we will use every power available to take weapons, drugs and dangerous offenders off our streets.”
Officers combined specialist capabilities with local policing knowledge and intelligence, resulting in the arrests of outstanding suspects linked to recent violent incidents.
Arrests made throughout the week include:
- Officers were on patrol on Somerleyton Road, Brixton when they spotted a moped driving at speed. They stopped and detained the driver. While he was being searched the man ran off and was chased on foot by officers and was seen discarding a bag on the road which was later found to contain Class A drugs. He was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply and grievous bodily harm after he hit an officer in the face with a crowbar. He has since been bailed pending further enquiries.
- On Wednesday 29 July, officers from the Met’s Territorial Support Group (TSG) raided two properties linked to known gang members, who were arrested for Possession with Intent to Supply Class B Drugs. One of the men was also arrested for possession of an offensive weapon. Both have since been bailed pending further enquiries.
- On 21 April, two people were shot in their home in Tower Hamlets in a gang related attack. One man, suspected of assisting the offenders by helping to remove incriminating evidence from a suspect’s flat, was tracked down in Brixton and arrested on Tuesday 28 July. He has since been bailed pending further enquiries.
- Officers investigating a stabbing which took place on Albert Way, Southwark, on Tuesday 28 July arrested the prime suspect in the attack on suspicion of grievous bodily harm just hours after it was reported. The suspect has since been bailed pending further enquiries.
The Met continues to bear down on serious violence across London. Over the past 18 months, the number of the most serious violent offences has fallen by almost 20 per cent, while lethal gunshot victims have reduced by 27 per cent.
Homicides remain at their lowest per capita rate (1.1 per 100,000) on record, at significantly lower levels than other comparable cities.
