An operation to crack down on crime in Soho on the weekend of May 21-22 resulted in more than 80 arrests in the area over two days. It is the fourth time that Operation Fallon, has been carried out in Westminster during the past 12 months and this recent operation saw 85 arrests being made and 118 cannabis warnings being issued.
The operation, carried out during Friday and Saturday evenings (20 and 21 May), involved a range of tactics including an outdoor search and prisoner processing facility built in the gardens of St Anne’s church, a mobile custody unit, mobile CCTV control vehicles and plain clothes and uniform officers patrolling the area.
Borough officers were supported by colleagues from Territorial Support Group (TSG), Dog Unit, Special Constables, Safer Transport Teams, CID leading to over 80 arrests for offences including drugs, robbery, attempted robbery, pick pocketing, assault and 118 official police warnings for possession of cannabis. Over the two evenings 185 people were taken through the mobile search facility.
Ch Insp Craig Haslam, leading the operation over the weekend, said: "This was most successful Operation Fallon, that we have run in Soho to date.
"We are working hard to ensure that Soho remains a unique and interesting place, whilst dealing with crime and anti-social behaviour which has a detrimental impact on the area. The number of arrests and cannabis warnings that were issued over the two days show that these operations are having a significant impact on drug related activity in the area. With this number of officers in Soho we were also able to focus on tackling robbery and alcohol related violence.
"I would like to thank all staff from my SNTs, MSC, Task Force and Response Teams, the TSG and drugs dogs who are consistently working to make Westminster’s night time economy a safer place to live in, work in and visit."
Operation Fallon is carried out as part of the wider SaferSoho Project, a joint initiative between local police and the council to reduce crime and anti social behaviour and improve the Soho area. The council has been working to increase street lighting, get rid of recessed doorways and close down unlicensed sex shops.
Fallon has been run on three separate occasions in Soho during the past twelve months, in August, September and December. These operations have been supported by other crime reduction initiatives in the area such as the launch of a dedicated team of 40 Special Constables, a new radio system linking businesses and the launch of a business crime reduction partnership which brings the police and the local CCTV control centre together to share information and intelligence about criminal activity.
For more information about the SaferSoho project, visit: www.safersoho.com
