POLICE TACKLE ANTI-SOCIAL ALCOHOL BEHAVIOUR IN TRIANGLE AREA
Police have visited various businesses in the Crystal Palace Triangle area in response to local concerns over anti-social behaviour linked to street drinking and alcohol.
The visits to various businesses, shops and restaurants throughout the Crystal Palace Triangle and surrounding areas were to ensure they were complying with the terms of their licences, particularly those selling goods such as alcohol, say police.
“it helps to make the area safer and that is a good thing for businesses and local residents alike” said a police spokesperson.
“Officers spoke to managers and staff about business crime and gave them crime prevention advice during the visits. “Officers also seized a number of alcohol products that had not had the correct duty paid on them” the spokesperson added.
PC Paul Gittens, from the Gipsy Hill SNT, who organised the operation said: “We were welcomed at the shops and venues we visited and the majority of them were all complying with their licences, with just some minor breaches apparent.
“There is a fantastic business community in the Gipsy Hill and Crystal Palace area and we will continue to work closely with all the local businesses to ensure they’re keeping to their licences, because ultimately, it helps to make the area safer and that is a good thing for businesses and local residents alike.”
Officers from the Gipsy Hill, Knights Hill and Crystal Palace Triangle Safer Neighbourhoods Teams (SNTs) took part in the joint operation with Croydon and Lambeth council officers, trading standards officers and immigration officers.
Three arrests were also made for immigration matters during the operation.
14 ARRESTED IN GUN AND DRUGS CRACKDOWN
Police in Croydon carried out a series of dawn raids on Wednesday10th December as part of an operation led by the Met’s Trident Gang Crime Command to tackle gang crime, drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in and around the West Croydon and Broad Green areas.
A total of 15 warrants were executed from 04:45hrs in coordinated raids across Croydon, Lambeth, Sutton, Lewisham and Bromley.
Police say there have been a total of 14 arrests (14 men aged between 14 – 37) so far for a range of drug offences, including Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs, Conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, Supply Class A drugs, Supply Class B drugs, Offer to Supply Class A Drugs, Offer to Supply Class B Drugs, Concerned in Supply of Class A Drugs, Concerned in Supply Class B Drugs and Offer to Supply Class A Drugs.
A large amount of cash, believed to be around £10,000 and a Mercedes and BMW were seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act by officers during the raids, which involved around 150 officers from across the Met, including officers from Croydon, Trident, the Territorial Support Group and City of London.
Warrants were executed at 11 addresses in Croydon, two addresses in Lambeth, one in Sutton, and – one in Bromley.
MORE THAN 350 FIREARMS RECOVERED IN MET’S FIRST SURRENDER IN SIX YEARS – INCLUDING WORLD WAR ONE ITEMS
Over 350 firearms and more than 12,300 rounds of ammunition have been handed in by Londoners at police stations across the capital, during the Met’s first firearms surrender in six years.
Detective Chief Inspector Gary Bruce, Trident Gang Crime Command, said:“We had an incredible response to the gun surrender and I want to thank Londoners for their enthusiasm in getting behind this campaign and supporting us.
“The surrender has led to a significant number of lethal-barrelled weapons and ammunition being taken off the streets, preventing them from falling into the hands of criminals, in particular gang members, and helping to further reduce gun crime in the capital.
“We had an incredible response to the gun surrender. I want to thank Londoners for their enthusiasm.
”We have seen a substantial number of antique or ‘granddad guns’ handed in, ultimately these firearms are live weapons and can be used to kill or injure someone.
“Of the firearms recovered, around 25 per cent will be sent off for further forensic examination to see if they have been involved in crime. Those with antique value will be passed on to museums, collections and Leeds Armoury, the remaining firearms will be destroyed.”
Of the 351 firearms, at least 220 are live firing firearms, 74 air rifles and 57 imitation guns. A wide range of firearms have been handed in, of note two ‘walking stick’ guns were recovered along with accompanying shells, one of which had been in possession of the owner for 50 years and he had paid 50 shillings for it.
Several WW1 weapons were handed in, including an Eight Star, a model of gun known to have been used recently by gang members, and a .45 auto dating back to 1911.
The surrender gave Londoners the chance to dispose of firearms or ammunition, by taking it to a local police station and handing it in. The surrender started at 07:00 hours on 10 November and ended 23:00 hours on 23 November.
During the two-week period, those surrendering firearms did not face prosecution for illegal possession and could remain anonymous. All weapons and ammunition were forensically checked for evidence.
If you have any information about gun or gang crime please contact the police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. (Source: Metropolitan Police press releases.)
