200 police in gang swoop on Queen's Crescent - rush-hour operation targets drug dealers on estate

SUSPECTED drug dealers got a nasty shock ­yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon when they ran into a squadron of more than 200 police officers.

Members of the public looked on in amazement as officers flooded Queen’s Crescent and blocked all escape routes.

The large-scale operation, one of the most significant of its kind ever carried out by Camden police in recent years, was aimed at tackling youth violence and class A drug dealing. 

Police said their actions – codenamed “Operation Target” – were intended at “reclaiming” the area for the community.

They revealed that the operation followed months of highly confidential planning by Camden’s top detectives in response to outbreaks of youth violence and a knife murder in April.

Chief Inspector Louis Smith, the officer in charge of yesterday, said: “This operation was an immediate drive to tackle the intelligence-led information we have gathered in the Queen’s Crescent area, and there will now be a longer-term drive to reduce criminal activity and keep it down.”

Officers were briefed at a secret location before a convoy of marked police vans sealed off the target area after surveillance identified a large number of known individuals.

A team of officers, including borough police, Territorial Support Group (TSG), a dog squad, youth violence teams and even a helicopter then surrounded the area in a surprise sting.

Members of the public were advised to leave the area while suspects were searched. 

Handcuffed men and youths were taken to different central London police stations to be quizzed by detectives. Further arrests followed as police maintained a high-visibility presence in the area. 

Borough Commander John Sutherland was on his way to join the raid when he ran into a known target in nearby Weedington Road. Camden’s most senior officer arrested the suspect on the spot.

At least 10 other men and youths were arrested on suspicion of offences including conspiracy to supply class A drugs, conspiracy to rob and possession of cannabis. 

Police also raided properties and found stolen goods and quantities of drugs.

Chief Supt Sutherland said patrols would be stepped up in the area in the wake of the raid, adding: “The Queen’s Crescent neighbourhood belongs to the vast majority of law-abiding local people. 

“It is their community – and we will challenge anyone who seeks to disrupt or undermine it.”

As part of the raid,  police also went into buildings including the William Hill betting shop in Queen’s Crescent.

Briefing officers earlier in the day, Detective Superintendent Neil Wilson, who leads Camden CID, told officers it was “business as usual” despite the high-profile resignations of senior Met officers over the phone-hacking scandal.

He said: “This is about gangs. This is about young people dealing drugs in and around Camden. This is the sharp end of policing.”

Camden’s community safety chief, Councillor Abdul Hai, who joined police operation, said: “This sends a clear message to the drug dealers inflicting crime on our community. We want to give the street back to the community as it belongs to the community.”

Published: 21 July 2011
by JOSIE HINTON

Pictures from the raid