A suspected drug dealer has been arrested in Kidbrooke after police spotted someone hanging around a Greenwich school on a stolen moped.

On January 16, officers noticed a man acting suspiciously in the area and tried to stop a moped, but it allegedly failed to stop.

This moped had been reported stolen.

Officers pursued the moped by car and then on foot, before detaining a man.

A search then uncovered dozens of bags of cannabis, wraps of cocaine, cash, and a phone, say police.

A man was arrested on suspicion of drugs, driving, theft and money laundering offences.

Police have said that they are now aiming to reunite the moped with its owner.

The man has been bailed as officers continue to investigate as a priority.

A new south east London Metropolitan Police team made the arrest two hours after the team was launched.

The team pinpointed an area in Kidbrooke with reports of robberies.

They were sent there to disrupt crime and catch perpetrators.

Sergeant Wayne Robbens, who leads one of the new teams, said: “We listened to local people’s concerns and launched this team so we could tackle the issues they are worried about.

“We all want to make south-east London a safer place for our communities, and this is one of the steps we’re taking to make this happen.

“Being robbed is a terrifying experience and we will seek out those who commit this horrible crime.”

Borough Commander Trevor Lawry, who leads policing in Greenwich, said: “Having spoken with a lot of members of the community, I know how important it is for us to hear what concerns they have and, most importantly, act on them quickly.

“We’re using all the intelligence and data we can to precisely locate where the issues are and quickly send officers to act.

“We’re here to serve the south-east, and I hope that more people can see we’re responding to what matters to them. We’re constantly working to improve our service.”

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “A new south-east London Met team arrested a suspected drug dealer who was spotted hanging around a Greenwich school on a stolen moped.

“The new team are one of four who will be sent on precision taskings in south-east London, using intelligence and data to identify and target issues in local communities.

“The officers made the arrest within two hours of the team being launched.

“The proactive team pinpointed a specific area of Kidbrooke that had reports of robberies.

“The team were sent there so they could disrupt crime and catch perpetrators and, while on patrol on 16 January, they noticed a man acting suspiciously in the area.

“They tried to halt a moped which refused to stop.

“Officers pursued the man by car and then on foot, before detaining him.

“A search found dozens of bags of cannabis, wraps of cocaine, cash, and a phone.

“The moped was discovered as reported stolen and officers will now seek to reunite it with its owner.

“A man was arrested on suspicion of drugs, driving, theft and money laundering offences.

“He has been bailed while officers continue to investigate as a priority.”