A number of people were arrested following an operation by the Safer Neighbourhood Police Team to tackle crime in Barking Town Centre. 

The operation, which took place on Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 February was set up by the police to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the centre of Barking. 

In total, police officers stopped and searched 10 different individuals and arrested people for robbery, grievous bodily harm and a breach of a Court Order. 

Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety: “Residents have told us about their concerns of working around the town centre or just going about their daily business, which is why we continue to work closely with the police to tackle particular issues or concerns. 

“Reducing crime in Barking and Dagenham is a top priority for the council and that is why joint operations like this are so important to and will give our residents the confidence that we are cracking down on such behaviour anywhere in our borough.

“Going forward, we will be working with the police to run similar operations in other locations that concern residents.”

During the operation, police officers also found a community resolution/someone in possession of for cannabis and issued a caution.

Also, recent figures show that as part of a police operation called Operation Vanquish that took place from 6 January to 5 February, officers from the East BCU area that covers Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge conducted the most stop and searches and made the most arrests.

In total, there were just under 500 stop and searches and approximately 80 arrests.