Operation targeting gang crime nets 19 arrests in Haringey

StroudGreen.SNT · March 2012

A total of 19 individuals have been arrested over the past 24 hours in north London during the second operation carried out under the major new crackdown on gang crime by the Metropolitan Police Service. The two-day operation targeted at a Haringey-based gangs saw 17 suspected members arrested in the street in the Turnpike Lane area yesterday afternoon (28 February), and a further two were arrested in dawn raids today (29 February) in Wood Green. The suspected gang members, who were all males and ranged in age from aged 17 to 39, were arrested for offences related to the supply of class A drugs. They are currently being interviewed at a number of London police stations. 200 officers from Haringey borough, Met specialist units and Safer Transport teams joined together for the operation, which was spearheaded by the Trident Gang Crime Command. Detective Chief Inspector Tim Champion, said: "This second major operation under the new command fulfils one of our main objectives, to take harmful gang members off the streets and make our communities safer as a result. "These raids today are a result of weeks of meticulous preparation by our specialist team – and there will be many more as we work to progress our objective of identifying, tracking down and bringing to account the most prolific offenders linked to street gangs. "However, we would much rather stop young people offending in the first place. For the small number of young people who choose to affiliate to gangs our message is clear – either accept the specialist support on offer to leave criminality behind, or face the consequences that are inevitably coming to you." MPS Superintendent Chris Barclay, lead for Haringey’s Gang Crime Taskforce, added: "This operation is another example of our determination to enforce the law against those involved in gang crime. “For those who refuse to engage with the help offered to get out of gangs, we will support the Commissioner’s tough stance on gangs by taking robust enforcement action in order to ensure the streets are safe for the community. “We will continue to work in partnership with Haringey Council and other agencies to identify opportunities to divert those at risk of getting drawn into gangs and to show those that want to leave the gang lifestyle behind that there is a way out." The Trident Gang Crime Command was launched publicly on 8 February 2012 with a mass photocall in Trafalgar Square that brought together police, victims and community members in a show of strength, demonstrating Londoners’ determination to battle the blight of gang crime. It marked the beginning of a step change in how the MPS tackles gang crime in the capital and forms a key part of the Met Commissioner's total war on crime. The new command of 1,000 officers retains responsibility for the prevention and investigation of shootings, but will now work more closely with local areas to proactively tackle gang crime. Haringey is one of 19 priority boroughs that is getting dedicated Gang Crime Taskforces to deal with local gang crime and work with partners to implement diversion activities. Raids carried out in more than a dozen boroughs over the three days from 8-10 February resulted in 365 arrests for a variety of offences including possession of firearms, the supply and possession of drugs, money laundering and gang-related violence. A substantial amount of cash was also seized. The new command is enhanced with additional specialist resources from the MPS, and is responsible for real time monitoring of gang activity across London. It will see better and more consistent use of intelligence to identify and prioritise the most harmful gang members, while spotting young people at risk of being drawn into gangs who can be referred to other agencies for help in keeping them away from crime. According to MPS intelligence systems there are an estimated 250 active criminal gangs in London, comprising about 4,800 individuals. Of these gangs 62 are considered as ’high harm’ and commit two thirds of all gang-related crime

gardener-joe · March 2012

Great story, well done amd all that ... but please could you add some paragraph breaks next time the 'share the good news bug' bites? That relentless block of text nearly made my eyes bleed in reading it!

Arkady · March 2012

Thanks SNT. Last night there were at least two squad cars parked up on Mount View Road - my neighbour says there were 3 plus a riot van - and the officers all headed into a single property. Was that related to the above, or something else?

ChangN4N6 · March 2012

Well done coppers. I'm glad you are upping your game and these ppl deserve all they get. Sad about the PC blinded by that fu&£r Raol Moat. makes me sick. I wish we still had capital punishment for types like him, Chang

ChangN4N6 · March 2012

Well done coppers. I'm glad you are upping your game and these ppl deserve all they get. Sad about the PC blinded by that fu&£r Raol Moat. makes me sick. I wish we still had capital punishment for types like him, Chang

StroudGreen.SNT · March 2012

@gardener-joe There was paragraphs in it in the original email I received regarding it, but somehow when copying and pasting it on here, the paragraphs seemed to disappear. Wont pretend I know why!<div> </div><div>@Arkady I don't believe that incident was to do with this. There was no arrests made in the Stroud Green Ward in relation to this.</div><div> </div><div>PC Paul KANE 263YR</div><div>Stroud Green SNT</div>

chrisn4 · March 2012

Thank you very much to Old Bill for rounding up the local scummers and scroats... It must take alot of bravery to confront knife whielding yobs on drugs with pitbull dogs...I wouldn't be brave enough. I don't think the police get enough praise for the difficult and skillfull job they do in arresting n4 wrong un's... Bring back the long drop for heroin and crack drug dealers...

RedSturgeon · March 2012

1) Policing is undoubtedly a difficult job done in difficult circumstances. 2) Officers deliberately put themselves in harm's way at the whim, ultimately, of our elected representatives. 3) The black-market trade in illegal drugs causes untold misery, fuels gun and knife crime, destroys families, gives gangs their raison d'etre and wrecks lives. 4) I doubt PC Kane, DCI Champion and Superintendent Barclay are (privately) remotely confident that the 19 arrested don't have brothers/cousins/friends/rivals (about all of whom they have less intelligence data) who will step in to fill the vaccuum within days or weeks - or that the 19 will be out of action for significant periods of time. (What proportion were bailed following interview?) 5) There is very substantial profit to be made <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/13/bad-science-cocaine-study">because of</a> the prohibition on these substances. Price of kg of cocaine in Peru (2007) <a href="http://www.galdu.org/web/index.php?odas=2924&giella1=eng">$857</a>. Price of that kg of cocaine in UK (2010) <a href="http://www.idmu.co.uk/cokeprice10.htm">£28.6k . </a>Price that kg sells for if split into gram deals (2010) <a href="http://www.idmu.co.uk/cokeprice10.htm">£42.8k</a> . 6) Price of kg of heroin in Afghanistan<a href="http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/docs\UKDPC drug policy review.pdf"> £204</a>. UK wholesale price<a href="http://www.soca.gov.uk/news/309-soca-comments-on-reported-uk-heroin-shortages"> £20k</a>, street price<a href="http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/docs\UKDPC drug policy review.pdf"> £54k</a>. 7) The <a href="http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/WDR2011/World_Drug_Report_2011_ebook.pdf">war on drugs</a> does not necessarily have <a href="http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/WDR2011/World_Drug_Report_2011_ebook.pdf">the effect</a> that a superficial <a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2011/11/crime-and-drugs">analysis would suggest</a>. 8) <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4802830.stm">Senior police officers</a>, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7949342/Cocaine-should-be-legal-says-top-doctor.html">doctors</a> and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12005824">politicians </a>tend only to seriously advocate lifting of prohibition once out of office, but they do do it. 9) Health problems caused by tobacco and alcohol use are described by the WHO in this <a href="http://www.tdpf.org.uk/WHOleaked.pdf">leaked report </a>as more grave than those associated with cocaine ["Occasional cocaine use does not typically lead to severe or even minor physical or social problems … a minority of people … use casually for a short or long period, and suffer little or no negative consequences."]. Long term unadulterated heroin use risks constipation and dependency, but has few other physiological affects. 10) I'd be interested in anecdotal or empirical evidence that well-intentioned coal-face operations like this achieve what they're intended to. SOCA make some suggestions that their operations result in a raising of the middle-market drug price, but I do wonder whether, given the effect of some of the articles that come up on a quick google, that's actually desperately constructive. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flat-Earth-News-Award-winning-Distortion/dp/0099512688/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330705633&sr=1-1">Flat Earth News</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-Science-Ben-Goldacre/dp/000728487X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330705601&sr=8-1">Bad Science</a> are good on this. I'm not surprised to here the odd long-dropper here. Slightly surprised to see no other views...

Arkady · March 2012

Completely agree.

chrisn4 · March 2012

It doesn't surprise me that Arkady agrees with Redsturgeon's deluded arguments, liberal thinking making England a less safe place. If you legalise drugs then people will just buy them who would never go to a drug dealer. For example people who don't want to have anything to do with illegal drug dealers would buy drugs. One thing about the long drop is people don't commit crime anymore as they are dead. Deluded liberals say prison does not work.But it keeps criminals off the streets so they can't burgle houses when in prison. In Iran they can leave their doors unlocked in big cities.Because you get your hand cut off if you steal. It was better in England when criminals were sent to Australia if they committed crime.Some of them have returned to the scene of the crime to commit more crimes. For me it's the guardian reading liberal mentality that has lead to n4 streets being unsafe after dark in some places. It is hurtfull to morale that guardian reading lefties have mounted this viscious attack on the safety and security of Londoners by being soft on crime. People like David Cameron are the worst,priveledged people with security guards who cut funding to the police.I find David Cameron absolutely revolting and sickeningly weak.

chrisn4 · March 2012

England is a hierachical rather than egalitarian country. USA is an egalitarian rather than a hierachical society. In England we have the monarchy (a republic would be better) and we we have Bishops in House of Lords (get rid of them) and peers who have been there for hundreds of years (get rid of them). Unfortunately this creates a priveledged and out of touch mentality like Arkady's and Redsturgeon's. People who can afford to move away from the council estate and move into a gentile middle class leafy suburb Then when they are flicking through their guardian newspaper they can pontificate about being soft on crime. And making assumptions,as redsturgeon has done about what local police may or may not think.AS if they are a mind reader. How do you know what police are thinking it is an assumption you have made In USA some towns have very low crime as they are hundreds of miles away from big cities. When the broken windows strategy was adopted by mayor guilliani in new york - crime plummeted Boris Johnson - who lives in highbury - wanted to cut funding to the police.They are living in a fantasy world... people like Cameron and Johnson dont live on or near council estates they out of touch and weak... But we have little choice as tony blairs vile and repulsive attack on England created the england riots of 2011... if down to earth and common sense people like winston churchill become leaders of the tories is our only hope.

ADGS · March 2012

If people who would never go to drug dealers take legal drugs - so what? The taxes are going to the Exchequer, yet the drugs are still cheaper, so the users don't have to go on the rob. Everyone wins, except for the career criminals.

Arkady · March 2012

Iran and Saudi have some of the highest rates of heroin addiction in the world despite being incredibly punative towards drug dealers and users. There is no evidence to connect sanctions with usage, despite what Peter Hitchens may claim.

ADGS · March 2012

I think 'despite what Peter Hitchens might say' can be taken as read, can't it? If only, when en route for Chris, the Reaper had taken a fraternal detour at the last minute.

Arkady · March 2012

I hate to be a pedant*, but Christopher Hitchens hated being called Chris. I still miss him every day. There is always something in the news that I want to hear his opinion on. He'd be tearing Assad a new arsehole. A *not true

chrisn4 · March 2012

adgs because drugs like crack cocaine make people psycotic or violent.If these drugs were legal there would be more violence.As people who would never go to a manky drug dealer would buy drugs from the shop and then kick off.I would never buy drugs from a drug dealer,these days,as I would not want to fund their criminal behaviour but I might buy herin or cocaine if it was legally available from a shop and could then become addicted or worse. People would still have to pay for drugs if legal so would still have to steal to buy cocaine legally if they dont have a job. In Iran if you get your hand cut off for burgling a house and then you do it again and both your hands are cut off.It does act as a deterrant as with no hands it is difficult to commit more crime.

ADGS · March 2012

There's a big bit in Hitch 22 about how he was Christopher in some circles, Chris in others. I know he preferred Christopher in later years, it just always seems so formal. Chris: I know plenty of people who've tried crack, and not gone on knife rampages. As with booze, the drug can contribute to violent episodes, but the law should still deal with the violence, not the partial, possible contributor. Unless you also want to ban religion and football?

andy · March 2012

very moreish, crack

miss annie · March 2012

Even if heroin, cocaine and crack were available in the 99p shop I wouldn't buy them. Because I don't want to. I'm pretty much the exception in my peer group as I've never tried smoking (anything) or other drugs. If someone wants to buy drugs they will find out a way to get them, often from friends not only the local drug dealer. Having worked in the creative industries for much of my life I've spent time around plenty of coke fiends and their behaviour is enough to put anyone one off giving it a try. Likewise people on Ecstasy - no I am not your mate, I don't want a hug and if you tell me that you love me one more time you'll get a smack in the chops!

Detritus · March 2012

As you all know Miss Annie and I live together and I have always known her view on drugs and she might not like me to put this but...I moved to the USA, Los Angeles in particular for a few reasons partially because there was work there for me but mostly as it was and still is legal to buy, grow and posess cannabis. (medical marijuana)I had to see a Doctor, a proper M.D. who gave me a licence after a full exam both physical and mental.In Cali you CAN NOT smoke weed in public that is still an arrestable offence.I was a heavy stoner up until the middle of last year and find it strange that a drug (alcohol) can be obtained at most shops, pubs, restaurants ect, yet cannabis is still illegal.I am not a drinker never have been, I can't remember the last time I was drunk I think it was my 30th birthday 6 years ago, yet every day you see on the streets, in the papers, on the news drunk people fighting, yelling just being twats, yet I have never EVER seen a stoner fight (unless it was about the last pie in the fridge) I think all drugs should be legal from weed up to Brown, but it should be in offiicially sanctioned government run shops, and anyone who wishes to buy drugs be it a pre-rolled joint to a wrap of speed should have a licence.I am not saying this because I was a heavy user I just think its a logical step. I feel it would cut out most of the dealers and the petty crime assosiated with the drugs trade. I doubt it would ever happen in the UK and its one of the things I miss most about moving back to this country.Please don't get me wrong I know that some drugs (not all) are evil but people will still take them regardless of legality so why not bring it into the open?I started smoking weed when I was 13 and just never stopped, and yes I have tried most drugs, and can understand the need for rigid drug control, but its just not working at the moment - look at the mess that was made in the reclassification of cannibis a few years ago.I am not saying drugs are good but I am saying drugs are here to stay and that's been known for a long long time.Please take a look at how it is set up in California.<a href="http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/mmp/Pages/Medical Marijuana Program.aspx">http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/mmp/Pages/Medical Marijuana Program.aspx</a> Medical Marijuana law California.<a href="http://www.thehigherpath.com/index.php">http://www.thehigherpath.com/index.php</a> My old smoke shop in Echo Park.

chrisn4 · March 2012

I used to buy an eighth of hash off a drugs dealer,morrocan rocky and smoke spliffs.But resin was not powerfull like today... but today's skunk is so powerfull it can cause psycosis - many times more powerfull than hashish of the past... also i would not want to pay a young man for drugs now - as you are encouraging him to pursue a criminal lifestyle for me when i smoked spliffs ...people talked about lsd and ectasy ... and i tried Lsd and had a classic 1960s style psycadelic trip... but if i had kids i would say i will pay you alot of money if you dont smoke cigarettes as that leads to tobacco addiction and trying skunk...i would say i will give you a few thousand quid if you get to age of 21 and dont smoke or take drugs...i think paying your kids to not smoke cigarrettes and try drugs is a good idea...

Detritus · March 2012

Never liked resin, but LSD that was fun, if my son wanted to try drugs I would hope he comes to me and asks about them first

chrisn4 · March 2012

talking to kids about drugs isnt enough because their peer group pressure might make them do drugs... also if you say i did drugs ... kids will think well dad did drugs so why shouldnt i even if you explain the bad bits... you have got to give them a financial incentive not to smoke and do drugs... and if you cant afford it just lie to them and say when you are 21 years old i will give you twenty five thousand quid if you havent done drugs or smoke cigarrettes...and we have got the money in a trust fund now for you... then when they get to 21 years old and they want the money ... just say you had to spend the money on the mortgage.. drugs are so evilly destructive that parents have to get ahead of the game and work out ways of stopping kids getting hooked...especially with smoking cigarettes...not much you can do about booze though...

ADGS · March 2012

Skunk hysteria is, for the most part, a prohibitionist attempt to keep the 'reefer madness' bullshit going even among a generation of parents who themselves got stoned back in the day. The data on THC counts &c simply doesn't add up - there's a good section in Ben Goldacre's Bad Science with the details.

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Operation targeting gang crime nets 19 arrests in Haringey

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