Four suspected drug dealers arrested as part of crime crackdown in Whitechapel

Officers from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command and Tower Hamlets Neighbourhood Policing Teams have arrested four suspected drug dealers as part of ongoing work to tackle serious and organised crime in Whitechapel.

They were arrested on Thursday, 5 June following an investigation into drug supply in and around Altab Ali Park. They remain in custody.

The arrests were part of Clear, Hold, Build, a Home Office-led initiative designed to reclaim and rebuild neighbourhoods affected by serious and organised crime, by focusing on what matters most to locals and working with communities and businesses to achieve this. There were previous arrests on 19 March.

Detective Superintendent Vicky Tunstall, the Met's Neighbourhood Policing Lead for Tower Hamlets, said:

“Drug supply is often linked to other offences such as violent crime and cause misery within our communities. By taking targeted action, we aim to reduce offending and tackle drug supply to improve the quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors to the area which is rich in its’ cultural importance and a vital area for recreational opportunities and activities.

“We have been listening to the people of Whitechapel to understand what matters most to them, and this operation has followed months of planning by our officers.

"We are focused on tackling the crimes that impact communities most heavily to reduce offending and improve neighbourhoods, and hope, while there is still a long way to go, that the people of Whitechapel are now starting to see the benefits of the work we have been doing in and around the area.

“As we move forward with our efforts to combat crime and improve safety, we will be working with our communities to build up the area and contribute to making sustained improvements.”

Altab Ali Park has a rich history and cultural significance within Tower Hamlets and the aim is to return it to a position in which residents, businesses and visitors can enjoy the area without fear of crime or anti-social behaviour and the park is used appropriately as a recreational area, and with respect for the memory of Altab Ali.

The work with Tower Hamlets Council is helping to clear the area of serious criminal activity by using a range of tactics, such as police and council enforcement officer patrols, as well as engagement with community members and local businesses.

Also on Thursday, the Met and the council held a joint event at Altab Ali Park to update the community on the important work taking place as part of Clear, Hold, Build and how the community can contribute to improvement. The targeted action has led to a significant reduction in violent crime and drug offences since it commenced in November 2024.

Cllr Abu Talha Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said:

"Altab Ali Park is a cherished part of our borough’s heritage, and we’re proud to see it becoming a safer, more vibrant space for everyone. This initiative shows what’s possible when the council, police, and community work together to tackle crime and build lasting change.”

Clear, Hold, Build is a three-phase framework developed by the Home Office that uses a problem solving and data-driven approach to improve the local response in tackling Serious and Organised Crime threats in a specific location.

‘Clear’ means targeted activity and crime disruption, working with partners; ‘Hold’ means stabilising the area to stop criminals moving in to fill the void; and ‘Build’ means community-driven action to address the causes of criminality and prevent it from happening again. Clear, Hold, Build also tackles vulnerabilities (drivers of crime) within communities and those being exploited.

We are now transitioning towards the ‘Build’ phase of the project and as a result you’ll start to see some food and drink stalls in the park to enjoy among other changes. The park will still be patrolled regularly by Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers, local police officers, detection dogs and police horses.

There will be an opportunity to submit your thoughts on the project in the coming months via survey but please feel free to speak to officers in the footprint - they’ll be happy to answer any questions that you might have and pass on your feedback.

Arrest details

A 32-year-old man, a 27-year-old man, a 22-year-old man and an 18-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs. They remain in custody.