The 48-hour operation, code-named ‘Big Wing’, saw hundreds of officers making more than 1,600 visits in searching for people who were wanted by police or who had failed to appear at court.
Among those arrested included people who were wanted for failing to attend court charged with grievous bodily harm and robbery. Other suspects wanted for offences including burglary, domestic violence and for breaching prison licence terms were also arrested.
The operation began in the early hours of last Wednesday with hundreds of officers from London’s Boroughs supported by colleagues in specialist teams visiting addresses connected to people who were wanted. This followed days of enquiries and background checks by officers searching the whereabouts of people who were outstanding.
1,619 visits were made across London and other enquiries conducted, eventuallty leading to the arrest of 924 people. Active enquiries are continuing to find others.
The operation, which saw the Metropolitan Police Service’s significant resources and skills coming together, is the latest in a series of major moves in London. It follows the first ‘Big Wing’ warrants operation in December last year which saw around 450 wanted people being arrested in two days.
On a daily basis about 80 wanted suspects are arrested by the Met.
Key priority for the Metropolitan Police Service
Assistant commissioner Simon Byrne, head of the Met’s Territorial Policing Unit, said: “Catching wanted offenders is now a key priority for us, and this major action is the latest in a series of big operations which are targeting criminals in London as part of our total war on crime.”
Byrne continued: “The people picked up in the last few days, weeks and months have either failed to appear at court, jumped bail or are wanted by the police for other crimes. Therefore, it’s critical they are relentlessly pursued so they do not escape justice.”
He added: “We will not give up in the search to find people who flout the law and we’ll use every means available to catch them. This is why we have arrested hundreds and hundreds of wanted people in the last few months.”
In conclusion, Byrne commented: “To those people that have information about someone who is wanted, we would ask that they contact their local officers or, if they wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. To those who remain wanted by us I advise you to hand yourself in before we knock on your door.”
Breakdown of the Operation ‘Big Wing’ statistics
A statistical breakdown of those arrested by the Metropolitan Police Service as part of Operation ‘Big Wing’ is as follows:
