Dog seized in Ealing youth gang police raid (From Ealing Times)

Dog seized in Ealing youth gang police raid

3:30pm Thursday 11th June 2009

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POLICE seized a dangerous dog from a home in Ealing as part of a series of raids across London aimed at clamping down on youth gangs.

More than 140 people have been arrested in the raids, the biggest of their kind to be carried out under the Met’s Operation Blunt 2, which aims to thwart knife crime and other serious youth violence.

The Met has confirmed that there were target addresses in all 32 of London’s boroughs.

Today’s arrests were made in connection with a wide range of violent offences, as well as aggravated burglary and drug dealing. A firearm was recovered in a raid in Westminster, and three dangerous dogs seized – one from an address in Ealing.

The colossal operation involved officers from the Territorial Support Group, Specialist Dogs’ Unit and the UK Border Agency. Safer Neighbourhoods teams and schools officers also took part.

Operation Blunt 2 was launched in 2008. So far, it has recovered 5,748 knives, and more than 10,800 people have been arrested for knife-related offences.

Its head, Commander Mark Simmons, said: “We know street gangs often play a part in violent attacks on young people. Individuals affiliated to gangs are cowardly, acting in packs and using weapons to target and intimidate others.”

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