It took one call about a firearm near a London secondary school to initiate police raids on 15 addresses in Merton, resulting in 23 arrests. Officers seized machetes, Class A drugs, stolen off-road bikes, and a significant amount of cash while responding to growing concerns over gang-related antisocial behavior. The operation, prompted by rising local violence, also uncovered homes being used for criminal activities, with some properties taken over by squatters. Five individuals were arrested on suspicion of modern slavery linked to child exploitation.
