At 5am, police officers in tactical gear gathered outside a south London home, preparing for a dawn raid as part of Operation Haldor. The Metropolitan Police had been conducting a series of raids across the borough, with Metro joining in to cover the event.
As the officers arrived, carrying door rammers and glass cutters, they were met with an unlocked front door. Nearly 20 officers were able to simply walk in, catching a man off guard on suspicion of supplying Class-A drugs. However, the raid was prompted by a desire to prevent further stabbings at Notting Hill Carnival the following day.
Inside the property, officers found a child crying for their mother through a top-floor window, highlighting the potential risks involved in the raid. But Inspector Kevin Chambers explained that the operation was necessary to prevent harm. "If we make these arrests now, we can stop people going to Notting Hill Carnival to cause harm," he said.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 16 weapons, including a machete and several zombie knives, as well as a large quantity of Class A and Class B drugs valued at £27,000. A total of 20 people were arrested, including a mum and her son, who were brought into the criminal world together.
Inspector Chambers noted that many people exploited by gangs later become exploiters themselves, including women. "It's sad to face but a lot of people who are exploited later become the exploiters," he said. The Metropolitan Police hope that the arrests and seizures will contribute to making Notting Hill Carnival safer.
As part of the operation, bail conditions were imposed on those found with knives, in an effort to prevent further violence at the carnival. Inspector Chambers stated, "We like to remind officers to impose these conditions to make the carnival as safe as possible. And if it means the people who we have caught today can't go, then we have done our job."
