CCTV shows ease of buying crack

Dramatic images show just how casually crack cocaine is bought in London.

Two men approach a dealer at a bus stop in north London. Moments later they are openly smoking the drug. The whole deal has taken less than 60 seconds.

These remarkable pictures were taken with a surveillance camera by undercover police in Camden.

The sequence of pictures shows:

It helped lead to a series of raids this week in which 12 arrests were made and "significant" quantities of crack cocaine and cash were seized.

A handgun and ammunition were found at an address in Harlesden. Officers are confident they have caught some "major players". The surveillance was part of an anti-drugs drive called Operation Martel, which has netted more than 800 rocks of crack with a street value of about £12,000.

Four crack houses have been shut, and 33 people in total have been arrested, most of whom are still in custody. Camden borough commander Chief Superintendant Mark Heath said: "We believe some of these people will receive considerable prison sentences."

More than 100 wraps of heroin and nearly two kilograms of cannabis have also been seized.

Nearly 300 officers took part in Tuesday's raids. Police entered four addresses and arrests continued throughout the day.