Wandsworth police continued their zero-tolerance approach towards the borough’s drug and youth violence problems last week with a series of morning raids aimed at reducing low-level crime on local housing estates.

When the Wandsworth Guardian went out with officers last week, two properties in the Shaftesbury area of Battersea were raided as the unsuspecting occupants slept in their beds.

Using intelligence and information passed to them from the local community, police targeted several other addresses across the borough where alleged suspicious activity had taken place.

The raids were part Operation Bruin, which used specific information gleaned from local residents, businesses and local authorities.

In total, 13 properties were searched at properties in Roehampton, Putney, Southfields, Clapham and Battersea.

Five people were arrested for possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs and four were arrested in connection with a serious assault that left the victim requiring plastic surgery.

In addition to quantities of cannabis, seven bicycles were retrieved along with three dogs found living in squalid conditions and weapons including a large hunting knife and a sharpened Samurai sword.

A further five people were also arrested and cautioned for possession of small amounts of cannabis.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: “Some of my neighbours got really pissed off this morning with all the noise and disruption but I think it's great that something is being done about these kids who affect people’s lives day-to-day.”

A police spokesman said: “Officers from Wandsworth made a series of searches at addresses, in what we regard as a highly successful operation.”

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