Police have swooped in and caught more than 80 people suspected of fueling drug crime in London and the rest of the country. Some 85 people were arrested for drug offences, 85 vehicles seized, 11 weapons were found and £10,840 in cash was uncovered across eight forces.
Three-Day Operation Targets Serious Crime
During the three-day operation which ran last week, police used ANPR technology to identify those involved in serious crime. This includes county drug lines, possession of weapons, theft and even modern slavery. During one arrest, footage shows a Metropolitan Police officer chasing and knocking down a suspect on a motorbike with an L plate before arresting him.
How ANPR Technology Works
Specialised cameras are able to read number plates and instantly compare them against databases. This identifies stolen cars and uninsured vehicles, which are often used as part of larger crime networks in London and the rest of the UK. The success of this operation only solidifies the decision to expand its technology as they were taken to court over facial recognition cameras.
Two people, Shaun Thompson and Silkie Carlo launched a judicial review into the cameras after Shaun was wrongly identified as a suspect outside London Bridge station in February 2024. They argued facial recognition is ‘similar to a DNA profile’ and that plans to mount permanent installations in the capital would make it ‘impossible’ for Londoners to travel without their biometric data being taken and processed.
High Court Backs Police
But the High Court disagreed with their arguments, giving the Met the green light to continue its expansion. Superintendent Francessca-May Robinson, who led the operation, said: ‘The result from the operation demonstrates the Met’s continued commitment to disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups operating across London.
‘Our multi-force approach and the ANPR technology enabled officers to identify offenders, target criminal networks and remove those causing harm from our streets. This operation highlights the strength of intelligence-led policing and our determination to tackle drug supply at every level.
‘We remain relentless in our mission to make communities safer. We hope our continued presence in north west will work as deterrent for those who seek to cause fear and harm in the area.’
