Police show criminals they are not welcome in London Bridge

BID Funded Officer PC Lee Noble with colleagues, including Police Dogs Polly, Rocco & Mace.

Intelligence suggests that the major London train stations are a well used as transit points for criminals travelling between the capital and surrounding areas, including so-called county lines activity. Unfortunately this includes London Bridge.

To combat this, and following a series of similar operations in the station, Operation Defiant was set up at London Bridge tube station on 27th September. Coordinated by PC Lee Noble of the British Transport Police, our BID funded officer, the Op doubled the resources used in previous operations with the aim of disrupting ‘county lines’ criminal activity and preventing other offences.

Plain clothes officers were present to detect and deter criminals before the main operation. Members of the public using the Jubilee Line will have been reassured by the visible presence of police officers across the gate line, ably assisted by three passive drugs detection Police Dogs; Polly, Rocco & Mace.

The BTP worked closely with colleagues from the Met Police and City of London Police, as well as revenue staff from TfL to deal with any ticket offences.

The operation led to 19 Community Resolution orders for cannabis possession, as well as gaining intelligence on a number of people who have recently been in trouble with the police, allowing them to keep track of their movements. A weapon was also recovered following work by officers outside the station.

Passengers and station staff were extremely pleased with how the day went. Team London Bridge Operations Manager, Aneta Szkodlarska said, ‘The message is clear, if you are coming into or travelling through London Bridge to commit a crime then you’d better watch out, the Police are watching you and you’re not welcome. Our Police colleagues work extremely hard to put these operations together and the local community is grateful for preventing crime in our area’.