Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined a drugs raid in West Norwood this morning (Wednesday, August 31).
The operation uncovered Class B drugs, paraphernalia, and a “suspected drugs line phone”. A 23-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs.
The interim Prime Minister joined the interim Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Steve House as Proactive Team officers from Lewisham Police Station stormed the south London address.
Detective Superintendent Victoria Sullivan, lead for south-east based Proactive Teams, said: “Drug dealing inflicts untold harm on our communities. Disrupting the lines of supply is central to our work in tackling violence which is the Met’s top priority. There are strong links between the two.
“This is just one of many enforcement operations being carried out daily as part of our focus on targeting the line holders, while also helping to safeguard the vulnerable people they exploit. Our message to the drug dealers is clear – we are coming for you.”
“Since April in Lambeth and Southwark alone, officers have shut down nine drug lines and recovered six firearms, with associated class A drugs and cash seizures, whilst in tandem neighbourhood teams are targeting drug and antisocial behaviour hotspots to help local residents.”
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The nine-strong Proactive Team that led the operation this morning is one of four that covers six south London boroughs.
Each is overseen by a detective inspector and with Detective Superintendent Sullivan at the head. This structure is replicated in the North West and North East areas of the Met.
These teams work to combat drug supply in their areas and target suspects wanted for high-profile murders and shootings.
Their job is to tackle violent crime in London including firearms criminality and serious and organised crime using “overt and covert tactics”.
Since 2021, the Proactive Teams in south-east London have received extra funding thanks to Project ADDER (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery), a government-funded initiative.
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Launched in Lambeth/Southwark in April this year, ADDER seeks to tackle drugs misuse through coordinated action combining targeted and tougher policing with an enhanced treatment and recovery service.
Detective Superintendent Sullivan explained: “We have always said that enforcement is only part of the solution – our combined approach seeks to remove the drug suppliers who cause the most harm to our communities, whilst creating a clear space for diversion and treatment for those who need it most.”
Since 2019, working alongside other forces, the Met has arrested over 2,000 line holders, closed down more than 800 lines, made over 1,000 arrests and secured around 3,500 charges for drugs, slavery and weapons offences.
A central Met specialist team funded by the Home Office, Operation Orochi, continues to work hand in glove with other forces to evidence the line-holders, then carry out joint enforcement activity. Taking a collaborative approach, with a no borders ethos, Orochi has a 90 per cent arrest to charge ratio, an 85 per cent early guilty plea rate and a 95 per cent conviction rate.