Police in Greenwich have arrested seven people for suspected drug offences as they kicked off the first day of a new operation aimed at tackling violent offenders within the borough.

News Shopper was invited to shadow a team as part of Operation Perseus, which saw approximately 200 officers attend eight addresses across Greenwich where suspected Class A drug suppliers were believed to be living.

One 19-year-old female; three 18-year-old males; a 23-year-old male; a 25-year-old-male; and a 26-year-old male have been arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs after initial warrants were carried out between 5-7am.

Around £3,000 worth of Class A and Class B drugs have also been seized from three addresses with that figure expected to increase as the operation continues throughout the day.

News Shopper:

A door damaged by police entry methods used during the raids.

While attending the first location shortly after 5am, Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy for the South East BCU said he was hopeful that the ongoing operation will help "remove harmful influences from the community" and work towards reducing violent crime in the area.

After visiting the first address, officers scrambled to the second scheduled location in Farjeon Road shortly after 5.30am where a battering ram was used to knock through the door of a flat before officers flooded in to secure the scene.

However, their target was unfortunately not present at the scene.

News Shopper were then taken to one final address in Brewhouse Road where one male suspect was arrested and a small quantity of suspected crack cocaine, with an estimated worth of more than £1,000, was seized.

News Shopper:

Suspected crack cocaine found at one of the addresses

Speaking after the operation, Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy deemed the operation "successful".

He added: "A lot of our officers have been redeployed to go and and carry out arrests at some other locations so this activity is going to go on for the next few hours."

News Shopper:

Tom the police dog was instrumental in finding hidden drugs in some of the locations visited. He received a treat for his hard work.

Leader of Greenwich Council, Cllr Dan Thorpe, who also joined the squads in their early morning operations, praised the work carried out by brave officers and wished to reassure residents that the Council will continue to work with The Met "to help keep our residents safe"

"Greenwich is a generally a peaceful borough and we work hard with the police and other agencies to keep it that way. Attending the raids this morning, I was struck by the sheer number of officers who need to be involved in planning and executing such a complex, potentially dangerous operation.

"I’d like to thank all the officers involved and give my full support to the Met, and forces up and down the country, who take dangerous criminals off our streets every day in very difficult circumstances.

"Taking suspected criminals into custody will help protect families and neighbours, and could prevent more people from becoming the victims of violent crime.

"I would like to reassure residents that the Council is doing everything in its power to help keep our residents safe. "Young people are more likely to be the victims of crime than the perpetrators, so we are in the process of setting up a new cross-agency team to help combat and prevent gang violence in the borough."

News Shopper will be updating the findings from Operation Perseus throughout the week as more information comes in.