Massive raid on crack suppliers

Four hundred police raided crack houses in a single London street last night in one of Scotland Yard's biggest operations against drugs.

The result - four suspected Yardie crack cocaine suppliers and more than a dozen street dealers were arrested. Police also recovered thousands of pounds worth of crack and cannabis from the raid in West Green Road, Tottenham.

The officers, who were all wearing body armour and were packed into double-decker buses, arrived in two convoys under the cover of darkness. The size of the operation needed to arrest fewer than 20 people underlines the desperate problems confronting Metropolitan Commissioner Sir John Stevens.

Crack dealers are among the most dangerous criminals in London and are behind the capital's recent surge in murders.

Sir John is today locked in a fierce argument with the Government, demanding an extra 10,000 police officers to bring numbers into line with New York. He is supported by Home Secretary David Blunkett but Chancellor Gordon Brown is said to be resisting because of costs.

Sir John also opened up the crime debate when he condemned the criminal justice system for allowing violent offenders to go free on bail "ready for anything".

The officer in charge of last night's operation, Ch Supt Steve James, said arresting the dealers was only one part of the £250,000 Operation Sansom and the main part was returning the area to "normality".

Mr James said: "We have arrested a significant number of people for crack cocaine. We have sufficient evidence to send these people away for a long time. This is the beginning of making this street, which was lawless, safe. The neighbourhood do not want criminals selling drugs from doorways and bringing with them more crime. The use of crack cocaine is exceptionally high and it brings with it misery - hopefully we can turning things round."

The operation swung into action just before 7pm as the police convoys moved in to seal the street at either end.

Two buses, packed with police, were sent in first and as the dealers carried on their trade, officers poured from the vehicles to raid five target premises and arrest suspects. Police riot vans followed and human cordons of officers stopped anyone in the street from leaving.

At the time dozens of people who were on their way home or out shopping were questioned while drug dogs were also used to find out if they were carrying drugs.

Drugs were seized from a butcher's shop, a restaurant, a barber's and two phone call shops. Undercover officers have been gathering evidence over the past four months.

Chief's blistering attack on law
Police poured out of red buses