Crackdown on crime

Following complaints, the police have launched a major operation to tackle crime in the Holly Street area. So far 16 of the known local drug dealers have been arrested and charged with a number remaining in custody or faced with bail conditional on staying away from Hackney. The charges could lead to prison sentences of between six months and seven years.

Residents have suffered a great deal over many months from the crime surrounding the area and this operation, which was conducted over several months and included under cover police gathering evidence is a major breakthrough.

I am liaising with police and local residents over crime issues in the London Fields area and Martello Street in particular. I hope that we will see similar results to the success in Holly Street.