Operation Condor runs over Bank Holiday weekend
A major operation cracking down on crimes relating to licensing issues is underway across the capital this bank holiday weekend. Police officers made 221 arrests for offences like drug dealing, theft, burglary, robbery, grevious bodily harm, possession of offensive weapons as well as immigration offences.
On Friday officers also visited 456 licensed premises across London and executed 13 warrants.
Approximately 4,000 officers are taking part in the latest Operation Condor, which runs over a 48 hour period from Friday 23 to Saturday 24 May, targeting those who flout licensing rules with more than 900 separate activities focusing on offences including license breaches by venues and the selling of knives, alcohol and cigarettes to under-age customers, drugs, tax avoidance and immigration fraud.
Borough officers, supported by the MPS Special Constabulary, Volunteer Police Cadets and partners, will be carrying out a range of operations, from enforcement of no drinking zones and spot checks carried out at bars, pubs and nightclubs to sex worker card patrols and brothel visits.
The MPS Safer Transport Command Cab Enforcement Unit and all 32 borough-based Safer Transport teams are also supporting the operation, with focus on reducing the risk of cab based sexual offending, taxi touting, illegal plying for hire and other cab related offences working in partnership with compliance teams from TfL's Taxi and Private Hire Directorate.
Acting Commander Carl Bussey, leading the operation, said: "Operation Condor targets those who flout licensing laws, for example, by selling knives, alcohol and harmful substances to underage youngsters; dealing drugs in pubs and clubs and illegal taxi touts.
"By working with our partner agencies, we aim to make sure that crime does not pay and that public safety is maintained over this busy bank holiday weekend. This is our seventh operation to date and we will continue to commit resources to these problems in order to reduce crime and increase public confidence."
To date Operation Condor has resulted in more than 2,200 arrests and visits to more than 20,000 licensed premises as well as the compulsory closure of dozens of problem venues ranging from crack houses to nightclubs.
May 24, 2014