Pic: Metropolitan Police

Seventy arrests have been made in Hackney as part of a London-wide crackdown on licensing breaches, anti-social behaviour and drug offences.

Operation Condor was launched on Friday, mobilizing 247 Hackney and Metropolitan police officers across the borough. Arrests were made for offences including drug possession, taxi touting, pickpocketing, fighting, and persistent begging.

Police also seized 68 bottles of counterfeit alcohol, and detected numerous breaches of licensing laws.

Officers focused on Shoreditch where a tent was erected to allow police to search suspects at the scene.

Drug search dogs patrolled outside train and tube stations in the borough, and Dalston was host to an anti-taxi touting operation.

Councillor Sophie Linden, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Crime, said: “Our community safety wardens, licensing, trading standards, and anti-social behaviour officers worked closely with police to develop Operation Condor and to make it a success in Hackney.”

“The scale of the operation and the impact it has made sends a clear message to those engaged in illegal activity that we’re committed, equipped and ready to take strong action against them.”

“We’ve cracked down on a huge range of anti-social and illegal behaviour and we want Hackney people to know that we’re committed to reducing crime further and to keeping Hackney safe.”

Operation Condor targeted all 32 London boroughs. In total, 489 premises were visited, 58 licensing breaches were found, and 420 people were arrested. 12 pubs and clubs have also been closed.

Kit Malthouse, deputy mayor for policing and crime, said: “Most criminal networks profit from illegal licensing, whether it’s selling alcohol illegally or giving youngsters access to harmful weapons.”

“Cracking down on this activity means we’ll see a knock on effect of a drop in robberies, violence and anti social behaviour.”