Commissioner launches major crackdown on neighbourhood crime

AS part of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner's 'war on crime' a major operation cracking down on neighbourhood criminals begins today, Thursday 24 November.

Operation Hawk will see up to 4,000 Safer Neighbourhoods officers and PCSOs, supported by specialist colleagues including the Dogs Unit and Territorial Support Group, carrying out robust and visible operations in one day across London's 32 boroughs.

Officers are responding directly to community intelligence to target drug dealers, perpetrators of anti-social behaviour and other criminals who impact on communities.

Launching the operation today, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "Operation Hawk is another way to tackle criminals decisively and directly. It's all about responding to local concerns and acting on them to crack down on crime rapidly and effectively.

"It's a renewed emphasis on Safer Neighbourhoods teams making the most of local intelligence and acting on it. To help us do this, we need to encourage communities to talk to us and report concerns, but then we must reward this trust, by delivering swift results and telling people what action we have taken.

"The idea is that we take our intelligence to a magistrate ask for a warrant and 'put the doors in' as quickly as possible right across London.

"The core role of SNTs remains unchanged as Operation Hawk will become business as usual for Safer Neighbourhoods Teams and BOCUs and demonstrates 'Total Policing' at its best, working directly with the people we are here to protect."

Operation Hawk began with a public call to action through a series of radio ads launched on 16 November, urging Londoners to pass community intelligence about crime and disorder to their Safer Neighbourhoods teams [SNTs]. This is in addition to the usual methods of information gathering, such as SNT surgeries, forums and public meetings.

The focus is on telling residents about what action has been taken by officers to address their issues- with signage placed outside searched addresses and flyers and newsletters distributed.

Leading today's operation, Acting Commander Carl Bussey said: "Informing the public about the police action taken in response to intelligence received is as important as doing the operations, as by doing so the public are more likely to have increased confidence in the MPS.

"With the public's help, we can make local communities safer. Our message is tell your Safer Neighbourhoods team who is committing crime, disorder or anti social behaviour in your area and we'll help to make it stop.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "Criminals beware - we're stepping up a gear to crack down on the drug dealers, burglars and thieves that make our lives a misery.

"Operation Hawk means our hard working Safer Neighbourhoods teams will be keeping an even closer eye on crime hot spots."

For more information, see the Operation Hawk pages  on the SN internal site.