Police warning to offenders after crime blitz
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Police today warned they wanted to "put fear" into offenders as they lay in bed at night following an operation to blitz crime from a city suburb.
Officers arrested 45 people during a series of raids in Bromley, south London.
They were detained for a range of offences, including burglary, robbery, assault, theft, dangerous dog offences, drugs offences and breaching Asbos and Sex Offender Orders.
Police publicised their plans for the raids in advance, which resulted in 24 offenders voluntarily handing themselves in.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Smart, said: "We want to put fear into offenders and for them to lie in bed at night and wonder when we are coming through their front door.
"This blitz on wanted people has been really successful and we had filled the cells by lunchtime, with officers queuing up to bring prisoners into custody.
"We will not tolerate the criminal and anti-social who make people's lives a misery and will also pursue prosecutions of anyone who we find harbouring offenders who are wanted by the police."
The 36-hour operation began at 6am on Tuesday with a series of early morning raids.
Kit Malthouse, deputy mayor for policing, said: "Serious offenders have been removed from our streets and the residents of Bromley can breathe a sigh of relief.
"This successful operation shows that criminality will not be tolerated in any shape or form. The fact that 24 criminals handed themselves in once they heard about the raids is remarkable and I want to commend all the hard working officers for arresting some of London's most wanted offenders."