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Here’s a quick update on drugs dealing crime in your area, please be reassured that we’re taking this seriously and are here to help. Operation POROS is a Home Office funded anti-violence operation run by the Metropolitan Police targeting knife crime, robbery and drug-related offences.
In Croydon Op POROS focuses on the transport hubs of East and West Croydon and the surrounding roads, particularly London Road, North End and George Street. The operation is led and run by the 3 Town Centre Teams based in Croydon but officers from local SNTs help on deployments.
Below are a few of the recent results:
Proactive Drugs and Traffic Enforcement Operation
Officers from one of the Croydon Town Centre teams conducted a vehicle stop after recognising that the driver was disqualified from driving. The team successfully stopped the vehicle.
Checks revealed that the driver was driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and without valid insurance, resulting in the vehicle being seized. During the seizure process, officers noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from a rucksack located on the rear seat. A Section 23 Misuse of Drugs Act search and uncovered:
• 53 individually packaged snap bags of cannabis
• 9 larger bags of cannabis
• £440 in cash
Once in custody a section 18 was authorised and a search of the male’s home address was conducted whereby further drugs were found, 4 (Four) tables of MDMA and a snap bag of cannabis, all items have been seizure.
Significant Drug Supply Investigation
Officers whilst on patrol observed what appeared to be a drug transaction taking place. The suspected dealer was stopped and searched under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, resulting in the discovery of cannabis, cash and a flick knife. Which resulted in the male being arrested and taken to custody.
A Section 18 search of the suspect's home address was authorised and led to the recovery of:
• Approximately 2.5 kilograms of cannabis
• Drug dealing paraphernalia, including scales and empty snap bags
• A large zombie knife
• An estimated £6,000 to £9,000 in cash
Working closely with specialist financial investigators who provided guidance regarding the substantial cash seizure. Additional work was undertaken to secure laboratory submissions and progress evidential opportunities. Following liaison with the Crown Prosecution Service, charging authority was obtained.
The investigation concluded with the suspect being charged with 4 offences and remanded into custody.
Drug Supply Arrest Following Patrol Intervention
While conducting patrols in the town centre, officers witnessed what they believed to be a drug transaction and quickly intervened, stopping both the suspected dealer and suspected buyer.
Drugs were found and an arrest of the suspected dealer was made.
This is another strong example of officers actively targeting local priorities, identifying criminality in progress and taking positive action to disrupt drug supply networks operating within the town centre.
Further Drug Supply Disruption
Later the same day, officers conducting plain clothes patrols observed a suspected drug transaction and detained both parties involved.
Searches resulted in the suspected dealer being found in possession of cannabis, cash and a mobile phone. Further enquiries led officers to locate an additional quantity of cannabis concealed nearby, resulting in further drugs being recovered from the area.
This proactive intervention removed drugs from circulation and demonstrated effective use of local knowledge and policing experience to identify and disrupt criminal activity.
Offensive Weapon and Drug Arrest
Whilst on patrol in a marked police vehicle, officers were approached by members of the public who reported a male carrying and swinging a baseball bat in a public place.
Officers immediately carried out enquiries, located an individual matching the description and found him carrying a silver baseball bat. The suspect was challenged, complied with instructions and was safely detained.
During a subsequent search, officers located a small wrap containing a white powdered substance suspected to be Class A cocaine.
Officers acted swiftly to locate and safely disarm a potentially dangerous individual, removing both a weapon and suspected controlled drugs from the streets and helping to keep the town centre safe.
 Drug dealing is often linked with violent crime and the exploitation of vulnerable people, and discarded drug equipment can be a health risk and counts as antisocial behaviour. We’ve put hundreds more officers on the frontlines of community crime-fighting teams, upping visible patrols in the right ‘hot spots’ so we can deter and catch criminals. We are committed to tackling drug dealing wherever we find it. It forms a key part of our recently published ASB Action Plan. We will keep you updated on our efforts to do this in your area, but if you have any concerns or evidence, it is important you report this as soon as possible. If you have experienced drug dealing in your area, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.met.police.uk or call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org We want your help to shape the future of policing across London. We are seeking your views on our new inclusion strategy to ensure that the Met is a police service that is trusted, representative and more effective at keeping London safe. You can have your say on our Inclusion Strategy consultation which runs until Thursday 26 November. | 
