Police arrest dozens of suspects
A 'Total War on Crime Day' removed dozens of criminals from Merton's streets, with more than 100 police working from dawn as part of the major operation.
During the day they'd searched at least 34 addresses, made 37 arrests and seized almost £10,000 in cash.
Earlier in the day they closed a suspected crack house in South Wimbledon and caught a burglar red-handed as he returned home with stolen property.
The arrests covered a range of serious offences including conspiracy to supply class A drugs, burglary, robbery and being wanted on warrant. Other items seized included Class A drugs, stolen property and vehicles.
Borough Commander Darren Williams, who was in at 3am to oversee the operation, said: "My aim is to remove criminals, particularly violent criminals from streets of Merton.
"We have used everything in our arsenal of powers and I have used every available officer to robustly pursue opportunities against criminals and protect the community and the wider public. Criminal behaviour ruins the lives of law-abiding people who live, work and travel to Merton."
As part of the operation, they handed out leaflets to the public and displayed a previously seized Jaguar outside Wimbledon station (pictured right).
And pictured above right are Met Assistant Commissioner Simon Byrne and Inspector Jarvis at the first location raided by officers.
The day began with officers from the Territorial Support Group (TSG) conducting early morning raids on 13 properties in Mitcham to arrest those suspected of being linked to drug dealing, gangs, violence and theft.
This culminated months of work by detectives from the London Crime Squad who have been working with alongside Merton Borough. The suspected crack house they closed was at 1 Vanguard House in Pincott Road, South Wimbledon.
During the second part of the operation warrants 22 were executed by Merton officers at addresses across the borough to arrest suspects for offences including burglary, motor vehicle crime, violence and drug offences.
The day progressed into an Op Cubo initiative which so far has removed 7 unlicensed/uninsured vehicles from the streets.
Later in the evening, police cadets were used in a initiative to check that alcohol and knives were not being sold to under-age children. One pub, of six tested, did sell alcohol to an under-age child.
June 21, 2012