Dawn raids took place in Haggerston, Lower and Upper Clapton and Finsbury Park yesterday morning as part of Londonwide offensive Operation Hawk, which aims to disrupt street level drug dealing and cannabis farms.

Hackney Gazette: Officers on their way to Operation HawkOfficers on their way to Operation Hawk (Image: Archant)

Over 80 safer neighbourhoods officers, special constables and specialist Met staff carried out around 20 drugs warrants in the borough during Operation Hawk in response to community intelligence.

Hackney Gazette: Drugs and cash were seized during Operation HawkDrugs and cash were seized during Operation Hawk (Image: Archant)

Arrests were made at several addresses including properties in Kingsland Road in Haggerston, Powerscroft Road in Upper Clapton, Weald Square in Upper Clapton and Digby Crescent in Finsbury Park.

Cash and class A and B drugs were seized and two people were given warnings for cannabis possession.

Ch Insp Joseph Stokoe, said: “The searches will continue throughout the day as we have extra officers on duty for this operation and are able to respond to any ‘fast time’ intelligence that is passed to police.

“Although there has been additional activity today we are executing drug search warrants on a daily basis.

“Where you have concerns about drug dealing in your neighbourhood please let the police know, either through your local safer neighbourhoods team or via Crimestoppers.”

The operation relies on members of the public picking up the phone to report suspected drug activity in their neighbourhood.

Yesterday (Wednesday) was Operation Hawk’s second major day of action since last September, when £2.6 million worth of cannabis was seized.

In the meantime, officers have been working continuously to stamp out street level drug dealing as part of Operation Hawk and have closed more than 240 cannabis factories throughout the capital, as well as executing 6,000 warrants, including 4,700 drugs warrants.