'We're like a rude alarm clock': Meet the Met Police's drugbusters as they round up dealers

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Buckling helmets and bracing themselves for trouble, this is the police unit who smashed a network of Class A drug dealers in east London.

Six people were held as part of a blitz on drug dealing in Shadwell following 10 weeks of surveillance by police and council officials.

Crack cocaine and more than £10,000 in cash was seized in the raids on seven addresses early yesterday.

In one raid officers seized cash and Class A drugs after breaking down the door of a flat which had children’s bikes and laundry outside it. A Range Rover was also taken.

Officers carry out a drugs raid in Tower Hamlets

The operation, code-named Continuum, was launched after residents complained about drug dealing and anti-social behaviour.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Hamer said: “This is a rolling programme of action against drug dealing which has seen police working closely with the local council and Tower Hamlet Homes.

“We are using civil injunctions and criminal behaviour orders to tackle the problem of street dealing. What we want to do is to try to reduce the demand for drugs.”

Police recover cash and items during a drugs raid

He said officers had recovered knives and offensive weapons in raids in recent weeks. A total of 19 people had already been arrested and charged with offences including drug supply and possession and money laundering.

Det Chief Insp Hamer said stabbings had become more frequent in the area, which police believe is linked to drug dealers enforcing their territory. He added: “Every time we do a raid we learn more about these dealers and their habits. They know we’re watching them. We’re like a rude alarm clock that you can’t put on snooze.”

A neighbour of one of the raided properties said he knew the family whose home was being searched. He added: “The parents are very old and respectful — they’ll be terrified.”

One officer who took part in the raid described the never-ending game of cat-and-mouse as he drove to the next house, saying: “The guy we’re after is the ringleader, but there’ll be someone in his place very quickly.”

Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs said: “Residents are at the heart of our approach. We will have a mobile unit here for the next seven days to support them.

“Our work will include youth workers, helping homeless people and those suffering addiction and longer-term issues as well as making physical changes to our streets to make them safer.”

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