Week‑long Wembley crime crackdown results in dozens of arrests

A Metropolitan Police operation in Wembley has resulted in 64 vehicle seizures, 32 arrests and the recovery of five weapons.

Officers carried out uniformed patrols and plain clothed in known shoplifting hotspots, conducted traffic stop sites to check vehicles, including e-bikes were compliant and carried out licensing visits at retail premises to ensure retailers are cooperating with their operational regulations.

This is part of the Met’s work to crackdown on neighbourhood crime which is having the greatest impact on local communities.

The activity tackled offences including theft, retail crime, drug‑related activity and anti‑social behaviour linked to the illegal use of e‑bikes and mopeds.

As a result:

• A total of 27 test‑purchase licensing checks at shops, carried out by police cadets, resulted in seven breaches where shops sold alcohol to under-18s.

• One arrest for possession with intent to supply followed a moped pursuit. When the rider was apprehended, they initially handed over a small quantity of Class B drugs. A subsequent search of the moped revealed a large quantity of Class B drugs concealed within the lining of the leg cover.

Chief Inspector Yu Zhang, who led the operation, said:

“This week of action deliberately targeted the crimes that local people tell us matter most – from retail crime and drug offence to the illegal and reckless use of illegal e‑bikes.

“Our approach is about protecting neighbourhoods and preventing harm early, taking dangerous weapons off the streets, seizing illegal vehicles and holding offenders to account.

“Londoners are at the heart of everything we do. Last year, neighbourhood crime across northwest London fell by 6.4 per cent, with shoplifting in Brent down 10 per cent.”

As a result of the activity:

• 32 arrests for offences including possession with intent to supply drugs, possession of offensive weapons, shoplifting and robbery.

• Seven retail premises failed licensing checks after selling alcohol to under-18s.

• 64 vehicles seized, including illegal e‑bikes, e‑scooters and mopeds.

• 5 knives were seized.

Brent Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health, Councillor Liz Dixon, said:

“Neighbourhood crimes such as shoplifting, drug-related offending and antisocial behaviour can have a real impact on people’s sense of safety and on local businesses. This operation demonstrates the value of partnership working to tackle the issues that matter most to our communities.

“I’d like to thank Metropolitan Police officers and everyone involved in this week of action for helping to make our neighbourhoods safer. By targeting offenders, removing weapons from our streets and seizing illegal vehicles, this operation sends a clear message that criminal and antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated in Brent. We will continue working closely with the police and partners to keep our communities safe.”

This work is part of the Met’s wider crackdown on neighbourhood crime. Last year, theft from the person fell 22 per cent, bicycle theft fell 8 per cent and business burglary fell 14 per cent.

Shoplifting has also fallen by around 4 per cent, meaning roughly 3,200 fewer incidents. This comes as the new retail crime technology continues to be rolled out across London which in trial areas meant more than one in five offences now result in an arrest, charge or conviction.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Images of the operation available here: https://mps.box.com/s/46vibnnthwxz9m4ms1qjkxxc8jclowp0

• The week of action in Wembley ran between Tuesday, 26 to Sunday, 31 May 2026.