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Met snares 200 violent gang suspects in raids
Danny Brierley and Justin Davenport11.06.09
More than 200 of London's most violent teenagers and suspected gang members were seized in dawn raids today.
The Met swooped on addresses in all 32 boroughs, breaking down doors and smashing windows to get their targets in a blitz described as the biggest of its kind.
Senior officers spent weeks drawing up plans to target those responsible for knife crime and other serious youth violence.
The move was a new phase in Operation Blunt Two, a year-long strategy to cut the number of victims of knife attacks.
Officers made arrests for robbery, serious assault, violent disorder, aggravated burglary and drugs offences.
They seized a gun in Westminster and eight dangerous dogs in Lambeth, Tower Hamlets and Ealing.
An 11-year-old boy was among those held, with a 12 and 13-year-old over robberies in south London.
Police also used metal detector arches at transport hubs, stop and search operations and searched for weapons caches.
Commander Mark Simmons, responsible for the operation, said: "We know street gangs often play a part in violent attacks on young people.
Gangs are cowardly, acting in packs and using weapons to target and intimidate others.
Today's action is all about sending out a really clear message that we are absolutely relentless in pursuing gangs. This isn't a one-off."
In Newham detectives called at the homes of six teenagers wanted over a violent fracas in Snaresbrook crown court that followed the jailing of gang leader James Sorhaindo last month.
Kit Malthouse, the deputy mayor for policing, said: "On the day when three people are convicted of the murder of Ben Kinsella we are pleased to see the Met taking muscular action to deal with youth violence in the capital."
Reader views (6)
Catching them is easy.
It's punishing them that lets down the country.
- Ge, Kernow
What is the point, if they only get a slap on the wrists?
Sounds like another 200 Ben Kinsella Killer types in the making, just waiting to kill some poor sod.
- P Staker, London, SW8
Hmmm - 200 inconvenienced tearaways and wannabe thugs. A whole couple of days, max, wasted for them. Wonder what they'll do to make up for it when they inevitably get let off?
- Rogan, Irving
What about their human rights? They're only children! Someone call Liberty, etc, etc....
Sorry, I thought I'd get that in before some do gooder woolly liberal did, that way we can laugh at them in advance.
- Bob, Cheam
Okay, so what now and what deterents are we going to see? Probably none, and what about the parents of these gang members, as some were as young as 11, I hold the parents to blame if they are not controlling what their children are doing. As long as the parents are receiving child benefit they are responsible for that child. If the child is involved in crime the child benefit is cut. The parents of these children have a responsibility to society to bring their children up with a sense of right and wrong, not a life of take, take, take.
- Alan, East London
Does anyone else think that it might be a good use of ASBOs, to prevent convicted violent members of known violent gangs from associating with each other in public? In other words, disband the gang, or be locked up.
- Nigel, London
