Forty arrests in response to community concerns over drug dealing and violence

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers used a precision and data-led policing tool and automatic numberplate recognition (ANPR), together with local knowledge, to target vehicles linked to violent criminal activity.

The aim was to prevent criminals from using the capital’s road networks to transport drugs and weapons and help reduce gang, drug and weapon-based violence.

The operation saw more than 130 officers from the MPS’s new local proactive team from Harrow, Brent and Barnet and other specialist resources, such as the Dog Support Unit, arrest 41 people during last month’s operation.

Sergeant Tom Furlong, based in Harrow, who led the operation, said: “It is important for us to deny criminals the effective use of major roads in North West London, and the wider capital, as a means to carry weapons and drugs across London.

“We listened to the concerns raised by residents of Barnet, Brent and Harrow, with a targeted three-day operation.

“This operation has demonstrated the great use of the new local proactive team’s capability to work collaboratively with officers from the local Safer Neighbourhoods and emergency response teams to proactively pursue those that are intent on causing violence on the streets of London.

“I am also grateful to the officers from the Dog Unit, Roads and Transport Policing Command and the wider Met for bringing their specialist skillset and expertise to make this operation a success and make London safer for everyone.”

Overall, the operation resulted in:

• 41 arrests for a total of 74 offences, including the supply of Class A and Class B drugs, possession of an offensive weapon, robbery, aggravated burglary, grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police;
• Six offensive weapons including knives recovered;
• 34 vehicles seized; and
• More than a kilogram of Class B drugs (cannabis) and a further 100 individually packaged wraps seized.