Met Police Cracks Down on London Violence with Massive Officer Boost
The Met is launching a full-scale assault on violent crime across London. With violence topping their priority list, officers are going flat out to hunt down the city’s most dangerous offenders and clamp down on trouble hotspots.
Data-Driven Policing and New Taskforce Tactics
The Met is reshuffling resources and going all-in on data-led patrols. They’re throwing 100 seasoned officers into the frontline, teaming them up with local borough cops to use expert knowledge on the ground.
These officers will blitz violent crime with proactive patrols and lightning-fast investigations. The Violent Crime Taskforce has joined forces with the famed Operation Venice squad, which chopped moped crime by 38% in 2019. The merged team aims to hammer down robbery and knife attacks even harder.
- Two new homicide teams formed, with 50 detectives reassigned last year
- Daily arrests of top violent offenders ramping up
Stop and Search Offensives: Thousands of Weapons Seized
Stop and search powers are being wielded like never before. Over 4,000 weapons were confiscated by March 2019 alone. Section 60 powers will stay in play after serious incidents to head off violent retaliations and calm tense communities.
The Met admits drugs trafficking, especially county lines, fuels much of the violence. Last year, over 750 arrests targeted this scourge.
Officers on the Rise – More Muscle to Fight Crime
Officer numbers will swell to over 32,000 by summer 2020, giving the Met more firepower in its crackdown.
Partnering with the Violence Reduction Unit and local communities, the Met vows to tackle crime at its roots. Assistant Commissioner Mark Simmons says:
“Every officer knows tackling violence is our top priority. Londoners will see more police on the streets this year, hunting down violent criminals and safeguarding the public.”
“We’re better using intelligence to place officers where they’re needed most. But we can’t do this alone – community tips are vital. Help us keep London safe. Together, we WILL tackle violence.”
