EALING Police arrested 16 people, shutdown a heroin den and seized a cache of weapons in a London-wide crackdown on crime.
All 23 safer neighbourhood teams took part in a series of synchronized raids across the borough last Thursday (24) dubbed Operation Hawk.
They joined up to 4,000 officers and PCSOs across the capital in the initiative targeting criminals in 32 London boroughs for offences ranging from possession of drugs and weapons, to benefit fraud and handling stolen goods.
Borough Commander, Andy Rowell, warned criminals and would-be offenders that more operations like this would take place.
Inspector Julian Houlton, leading the Southall teams, said the operation was extremely successful. He added: "The message of Operation Hawk is that if any information is given to us we want to show the community that we will act on it.
"These sweeps send out a strong message to the local community and to those who intend to commit crime that we are being proactive and determined to make Ealing a safer place to be."
Some of the successes included a knife sweep on the Racecourse Estate, in Northolt, where officers recovered a haul of improvised weapons (pictured) including 10 metal poles, 12 wooden stakes, and three plastic tubes cut to cause harm, along with a baseball bat and a knife.
Four further drug seizes were made in the area, and three people summoned for benefit fraud.
Officers in Walpole and Elthorne arrested six people for possession with intent to supply after finding 25 wraps of a Class A drug believed to be heroin.
Another person was arrested in Southall Green for possession and intent to supply a Class A drug. Three more were arrested for the same offence in Norwood Green.
In Ealing Broadway, police found 28 bags of pills believed to be Class C steroids, vials of liquid and tablet pressing equipment along with £12,500 cash. One person was arrested for possession with intent to supply.
Another £12,500 cash was found in Acton believed to be proceeds of crime.
The council has approved five ASBO applications in Dean Gardens, West Ealing; another five are pending.
And teams in Cleveland and Hobbayne wards arrested an outstanding suspect wanted for criminal damage.
