News Shopper goes out on dawn Met police raids to catch Bexley's most wanted

Josie Griffiths joined 700 police officers on dawn raids to catch unsuspecting criminals as they slept.

At 4am on a weekday, the Wickes car park in Erith is usually empty.

But on Tuesday (March 24), it was swarmed upon by police vans - one of which was carrying Bexley’s borough commander Chief Superintendent Jeff Boothe, our driver Richard, a police press officer and myself.

Richard and Chief Supt Jeff Boothe

Outside, several policemen, and one or two women, stretched their legs in bullet proof jackets and riot helmets, before we set off in formation.

It was a successful morning.

Across Bexley, Lewisham, Greenwich and Bromley, 47 individuals were charged after raids on 53 properties.

Chief Supt Jeff Boothe told me "Bexley might be an outer London borough but if there is the need, the full force of the Met are available to us."

First stop, an unassuming end-of-terrace house in Galleon Close.

It was a family home - with toys and kids' bikes scattered across the front terrace.

Behind these doors was Mark Pearce, 31 - who was charged with possession of a firearm, 32 counts of fraud, two counts of theft, one count of conspiracy to burgle, and unlawful possession of medicinal drugs.

He remains in custody and will appear at Inner London Crown Court court on April 17.

"Where’s the medic? We need a medic. He has a cut on his leg," one policeman yelled from inside the house.

I asked Chief Superintendent Jeff Boothe if these raids pose a risk to officers and suspects, with alleged criminals trying to fight back.

I can’t imagine they like having their front door broken in before sunrise.

He was cagey but admitted: "If somebody forces back then we have got a duty of care that extends to protect themselves."

Luckily, with 15 officers raiding every house, there is back-up.

Pearce’s neighbour Josh New, 22, was also arrested and charged with three counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, to appear at Inner London on April 16.

Pic: Google Maps

Others Erith raids on Birling Road, Sun Court, Riverdale Road, Frinsted Road, Lower Road, Chichester Wharf, Brook Vale, West Street, Slade Green Road, Valence Road, Kale Road, Becton Place and Ling Road also led to charges.

"No sympathy"

South London area police commander Simon Letchford has no sympathy for criminals.

He said: "The reason for doing them early in the morning is because people will be at home.

"We want to stop them alerting other individuals which is why we have mobilised so many police officers.

"They make other people’s lives a misery. I have no sympathy for them and we will wake them up at 5am."

Next we went to a third floor Sidcup flat in Ockley Court, Main Road.

We all crept up the stairs as quietly as possible, and the Met lined up in front of the door.

Everything was silent. It was still dark outside.

"Police, police!" yelled the officers as they kicked down the door and ran through.

"Nothing to worry about"

As we waited in the corridor, an elderly lady emerged nervously from the next door flat.

PC Richard snapped into action.

"Morning madam, nothing to worry about. Nothing to worry about at all," he said.

Meanwhile the police were handcuffing her neighbour Damien Tolliday, 26, who has been charged on suspicion of three counts of fraud.

Two people have already been jailed after Tuesday’s arrests, and 29 convicted after previous raids.

Chief Supt Jeff Boothe told me: "We cannot be complacent. The total war on crime continues. Any victim of crime is one too many."