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Thousand police raid drug gangs
Rob Singh, Evening Standard27 Mar 2008
Police today smashed gangs dealing in class A drugs and stolen goods in a series of "unprecedented" swoops.
In one of the Met's biggest operations, more than 1,100 officers stormed 40 addresses and 19 firms in Islington.
Investigations focused on a network involved in heroin, cocaine, stolen goods and fraud. In one raid, police stormed Blackstock Road, hitting 19 businesses from butchers to internet cafés and fast food outlets.
A stretch of the north London road was barricaded as more than 40 vans ferried in officers in riot gear. Police hope to pick up at least 70 suspects.
Hours earlier, 40 warrants were executed in dawn swoops in north and north-west London. Other addresses in Hertfordshire and Gloucestershire and Leeds were also targeted.
Officers from the Met, the British Transport Police and Immigration Services were involved in the operation. They recovered forged documents, including passports and licences. They also found stolen goods including laptops, cameras, iPods and sat-nav systems.
Blackstock Road has long been on their radar say police sources. In the morning raids, 35 people were arrested. Commander of Islington Police Bob Carr said: "The area that we have focused on has always been in our sights." He said that more operations will be ongoing, adding that because of the "relatively" sophisticated nature of the network "we had to do it at one time and all in one hit".
He added: "It's something that needed to be done for a long time."
He explained the numbers of officers were needed to storm Blackstock Road because of the scores of businesses they were targeting and the possible threat of violence.
He said that police will be out in force working with and reassuring the community.
He added: "This sends out the very strong message criminals can't operate with impunity."
Reader views (5)
By all means arrest the suspected drug dealers etc., but were over a thousand officers really necessary?
- Jeremy Hower, London England, 08/04/2008 21:28
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Its about time Blackstock Road was Raided, these people need to be taken off the streets.
- Tina, London, 28/03/2008 11:43
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You mean that the police actually did their job for a change instead of penalising motorists (the same motorists who pay their wages).
- Jimbob, Kensington, UK, 28/03/2008 11:01
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As a resident of the area I'm delighted that the police have taken the level of crime here so seriously at last. Every single female neighbour that I know has been mugged and had her handbag stolen in or around Blackstock Road in recent years. The atmosphere at certain times of day feels very menacing for single females, and many friends avoid walking along this street because they feel so threatened. Altogether the theft and gang violence -stabbings etc -have blighted an otherwise excellent place to live.
- Christine, London, UK, 28/03/2008 10:04
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I have lived in this north Oxford suburb for six years and have yet to see a policeman on the beat. Where does the Met get 1100 officers from to mount a not desperately urgent raid on a London street? I wonder if the results of the raid will ever be made public. I wouldn't bet on it
- Tom Williams, Oxford UK, 28/03/2008 09:18
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