Police operation targets Shepherd's Bush Green Ward
Local police say 20 people were arrested in the Shepherd's Bush Green Ward at the end of last month as part of a crime reduction initiative.
Operation Sheriff, which took place in the run-up to Christmas, included all the officers from the Shepherd's Bush 24/7 Safer Neighbourhoods Team (13 officers), 27 special constables and assistance from the British Transport Police, who had their own crime prevention stand located in and around transport hubs on the ward.
Police officers were deployed to work within Westfield's CCTV room to direct resources within the shopping centre.
The operation concentrated on Thursday - Sunday as
intelligence showed this was when the majority of the offences were being committed.
Police say there were a total of twenty arrests made, ranging from 'street
gambling' to burglary. Nineteen people were charged and will be put before the courts. Other matters included a vehicle
seizure, issuing of penalty notices, three cannabis warnings and
twenty nine stop-and-searches.
Sergeant Ian Lewis from Shepherd's Bush 24/7 Safer Neighbourhood Team said: "Taking into consideration the 29 million people who passed through
Westfield Shopping Centre in the past twelve months, crimes have
remained low around Shepherd's Bush Green and were further reduced
during the month of December due to the efforts of the Shepherd's Bush
Green SN Team and the Hammersmith & Fulham Special Constabulary."
12 January 2010