British police arrest 300 people and seize 61 vehicles in 48-hour crackdown on licensed premises in London

Police made almost 300 arrests and seized 61 vehicles and substantial amounts of tobacco and alcohol during a 48-hour crackdown on licensed premises across the capital.


Nearly 4,000 officers raided clubs, pubs, off-licences and shops in London to target those flouting licensing rules, Scotland Yard said.


Since 8am on Friday police have visited nearly 6,000 premises, where 1,046 offences were reported or disclosed during the operation, dubbed Operation Condor.


Twenty-two venues were shut down, including pubs, saunas and massage parlours, with police checking for sex worker cards and that no-drinking zones had been enforced.

One of the largest individual operations involved 175 officers, including the Territorial Support Group, the Met police's helicopter and dog units, who raided the 93 Feet East club in Brick Lane after reports of dealers selling Class A drugs.

Police arrested nine people for offences, including possession of drugs with intent to supply, and the club was closed.

Police cadets also carried out test purchases at off-licences and shops, with undercover officers targeting taxi touts and illegal minicabs. Officers seized 35kg of non-duty paid tobacco, 200 stolen phones and five counterfeit iPhones.

By 3.30am on Sunday, officers, including those from Transport for London, trading standards, border agency staff and revenue and customs officers, had visited 5,830 licensed premises.

At least 297 people were arrested for various offences, including 38 for theft, 20 for public order offences, 20 for possessing Class A drugs, 22 for possessing Class B drugs, 26 for possession with intent to supply, seven for possessing offensive weapons, 18 for drunkenness, and 52 for immigration offences.
[link to www.independent.co.uk]