Gangs engaged in robberies, burglaries, and knife crime in northwest London faced a significant police operation over Halloween weekend, according to the Daily Mail.
Operation Moonshield saw officers in marked and unmarked vehicles patrol "chaos zones" known for high crime rates, responding to urgent calls. During one shift, police made four arrests for offenses including rape, theft, and possession of a knife. Thirteen stop searches were also conducted.
Inspector Pete Self of the Metropolitan Police noted a "seasonal spike" in crime around Halloween and Guy Fawkes night each year. "We see an increase in robbery and violent offences due to dark nights, people dressing up, and more victims of crime being out on the street," he explained.
During the operation, officers responded to a report of a man threatening another with a large knife outside a property. The suspect was arrested for possession of a knife, assault, and criminal damage. In another incident, a man was Tasered for failing to cooperate with officers and subsequently arrested for obstruction of a search and breach of bail.
The night also included a response to a house burglary where a couple reported hearing someone moving upstairs. A police dog was deployed, but the suspect had already fled the scene, leaving a smashed back door.
Officers also pursued two men on high-powered electric bikes, known to be used in street crime, who were believed to be linked to a gang involved in robberies. The police are also utilizing these electric bikes to patrol city streets and apprehend criminals.
Later in the evening, as a concert by Macklemore at Wembley Stadium concluded, police patrolled the area, focusing on masked individuals on electric bikes and suspicious vehicles. One BMW driver was stopped for running a red light and was found to have nine points on their license; the 24-year-old driver received a final warning.
The final call of the night involved a vehicle stop where a man wanted for a previous incident was found with a knife and drugs. He had initially failed to stop for police.
Inspector Self deemed the night a success, stating, "It's been a successful night; we've had quite a lot of activity. Generally that is what we're aiming for – to suppress that violent crime."
Data from earlier in the year indicated a rise in violent assaults in London since 2016, with reports of violence against the person increasing significantly. Theft from the person and sexual and drug offenses also saw notable increases over the same period.