Police in Harrow have uncovered drugs and an imitation firearm in a series of raids as they wage war on gangs in the borough.

Officers have carried out some 20 raids over the past fortnight and arrested a "great number" of people as they seek to address "increased tension" amongst gangs in Wealdstone .

The crackdown comes after a hooded gunman shot at three officers in Harrow during the early hours of July 14.

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Chief Superintendent Simon Ovens said his officers had teamed up with members of Trident, the Met 's gun crime unit, to target suspected gang members.

Speaking in his weekly blog, published on Thursday (August 25), the borough commander told how some 20 warrants had been executed over the past fortnight.

"I'm really pleased to tell you we've uncovered a large amount of drugs, including 0.5kg of cannabis in one premises, an imitation firearm and evidence of other criminal offences," he said.

'A lot of people will be going to prison for a long time'

"On the back of these we've arrested a great number of people and a lot of people will be going to prison for a long time."

Mr Ovens' message came on the day police raided a property in Rayners Lane and seized a large amount of cash and cannabis.

The borough commander previously praised the bravery of his officers who had pursued a gunman in July even after they had come under fire in Gladstone Way, Wealdstone.