Previous operation in July. Photo: The Metropolitan Police.
The fifth major capital-wide crackdown by the Metropolitan Police over the weekend on crimes relating to licensing issues has found many breaches in the borough of Tower Hamlets and other boroughs.
Termed Operation Condor, from September 13-15 the Met police made 420 arrests and seized thousands of pounds worth of contraband and counterfeit goods. The arrests were for a range of offences including drugs; attempted rape; immigration, public order; burglary; robbery; assault; weapons and assault.
In Tower Hamlets on Friday September 13, the Met police found 15 bottles of counterfeit goods, carried out 16 visits by VPC resulting in 6 breeches for under age sales (notices served by council), a ANPR Op 1 vehicle was seized, 8 FPN’s, 33 warrants for non-payment of fines was issued (£4,000 cash recovered, £7,000 worth of goods recovered), 3 s19 breeches served for CCTV, a positive cocaine sweep in gents toilet, and insufficient door staff.
3,793 officers were deployed during the course of the initiative, carrying out operations ranging from sex worker card patrols and brothel visits; targeting of unlicensed mini cabs and taxi touts; enforcement of no drinking zones and spot checks carried out at bars, pubs and nightclubs.
Across the capital, quantities of Class A and B drugs; thousands of pounds in cash and weapons including a BB gun; knife and bullets were recovered and more than 34,500 contraband cigarettes were seized from premises, along with hundreds of bottles of wine; beer and spirits.
Met Police Commander Mak Chishty, who lead for the operation, said: “This is our fifth Operation Condor to date and yet again we have witnessed a raft of excellent results, obtained by our concerted efforts involving thousands of officers being deployed all over London over a 48 hour period, together with the support provided by our key partners in other agencies.
“Licensing related crime affects many of our daily activities – from shops and supermarkets who sell knives or alcohol to young people and pubs and clubs who increase the risk of anti-social behaviour and violence by not ensuring alcohol is sold responsibly or drugs excluded, to those road users who put us all at risk by driving unlicensed, unsafe vehicles.
“These are just some of the areas that impact our communities we have repeatedly targeted under Operation Condors to date and we will continue to commit resources to these problems in order to reduce crime and increase public confidence.”
To date, Operation Condor has resulted in approximately 1,870 arrests and visits to more than 20,000 licensed premises as well as the compulsory closure of dozens of problem venues ranging from crack houses to nightclubs.
