NEIGHBOURING Kensington & Chelsea has seen a 25 per cent rise in racist hate crime and a 35 per cent increase in sex offences.
Violent muggings are also up by 14 per cent, and follow reports of a fourth gang related stabbing in as many weeks in North Kensington last Tuesday.
Police have responded to the rise by carrying out dawn raids with seven warrants targeting members of the infamous Ladbroke Blood Gang.
A police spokeswoman said: "A 20 year-old male from Holmefield House, Hazelwood Crescent, was arrested on suspicion of supplying crack cocaine. A 17 year-old from Wornington Road was arrested on suspicion of supplying crack cocaine and a 15 year-old from Wornington Road was arrested for possession of cannabis. Also seized during the raids was a sum of cash and mobile phones."
The raids were targeting those suspected of involvement in gangs and youth violence, and one of the arrests included a suspected gang king pin; a man considered to be in the top 15 of the most dangerous men in London.
Three individuals were also arrested for drugs offences ranging from possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and possession of cannabis.
Police officers in full riot gear along with three armoured riot vans carried out the dawn raids last Thursday.
DCI Rhys Willis, head of CID at Kensington and Chelsea, said: "Thankfully serious crime in our communities is low. We work alongside our partners in a number of areas to combat youth violence and use a number of diversion and intervention programmes. These tackle the issues which lead to teenagers and young people becoming involved in violence or becoming a victim.
"However, when these programmes are not effective and individuals are refusing to cooperate with our partner agencies we will look to actively enforce the law and take robust action. We have been successful lately securing charges against those committed to carry knives and commit violent crime thanks largely to the community and we will continue to pursue those intent on cultivating criminal gang activity."
