The Police under Commissioner Hogan-Howe have continued to demonstrate that Britain cannot and will never be a safe haven for any form of criminal activities as since assuming office last year, he and his officers have been giving criminals a hell of a time and it is to his credit also that several schemes have recently been launched to root out criminals.
Also, the police again have recorded a resounding success with Operation Bite -an innovative operation that seeks to forcibly expel dangerous foreign nationals from the UK which has seen eight major gang members being deported back to their countries of origin since its launch.
According to a police source Operation Bite, a joint initiative pioneered by the Metropolitan Police Service and the UK Border Agency (UKBA), is now to be expanded across other UK police force areas at the request of the government, due to its current 100% success rate and potential long-term impact. (As of October 2008, anyone deported or removed from the UK is not able to lawfully return for 10 years).
Vigilance learnt that another nine men are currently in immigration detention awaiting removal from the UK, with the newly expanded unit expecting to detain an average of two individuals per week over the coming year. Its list of targets includes dozens more gang members, as well as other 'high harm' offenders such as drug dealers, predatory sex offenders , firearms suppliers and those involved in kidnap and 'threat to life' cases.
A delighted Superintendent Supt Stuart Dark, MPS lead for Operation Bite enthused: "Operation Bite shows how much effective joint working and proactive use of existing laws can achieve. While the UK clearly benefits from immigration and the diversity this brings, we target the small minority of individuals who persist in abusing their privilege of residence and whose violent and prolific offending disproportionately harms their local community and puts wider society in fear.”
Supt Dark warned: "It is a common misconception that once granted, immigration status can't be taken away, whether that's a temporary visa or 'indefinite' leave to remain - in fact all are conditional on behaviour and can be reviewed and indeed revoked at any time. The individuals we pursue are lightening rods for violence. Our aim is simple, to control and then deport them before they can commit even more serious crimes, thus protecting the law abiding majority from future harm.”
Dark added: "Our message to such individuals is clear: we will catch up with you in the end. If your offending level means you become one of the 'Operation Bite' targets, you will be prioritised for maximum intervention and could ultimately be deported from the UK for a minimum of 10 years. Just stop for a minute and think of the effect of that on you and your family."
Hugh Ind, UKBA London and South East Regional Director, said: "Operation Bite is a pioneering initiative that enables harmful offenders to be identified and dealt with more quickly through close collaboration with the Metropolitan Police. By sharing intelligence, knowledge and expertise we can use our immigration powers to remove these dangerous individuals from the country, making the streets of London safer for law-abiding citizens.
Hugh added: "We have already seen some real success as a result of this initiative and will continue to work with the MPS to identify and deport harmful offenders at the earliest possible opportunity. We seek to remove all foreign criminals who commit a serious crime in the UK as soon as possible - last year we deported over 5,330 foreign national offenders from the UK."
Operation Bite came into force in 2009 using a collaborative approach police intelligence was systematically shared with UKBA, enabling the highest risk cases to be speedily identified and prioritised.
According to a the Police spokesperson foreign nationals who receive a 12-month prison sentence in a five year rolling period qualify for deportation due to their criminal history if their presence is found to be 'non-conducive to the public good'. Crucially, though, Operation Bite has shown that police intelligence can be used to successfully deport 'high harm' foreign nationals who do not meet this 12 month sentence threshold - as well as significantly bolster UKBA's case to remove those who do.
Adding, effectively, the police intelligence 'histories' produced by Operation Bite provide a complete picture of the true harm being caused by individuals, as they include not just information on previous convictions, but also critical details on the prevalent circumstances of crimes individuals have been arrested for, but never charged with; offences they have been accused of committing; times they have been uncooperative victims or witnesses to violent crime and their clear association with other known violent offenders or a particular gang.
In many cases so far, the risk posed by individuals identified has been considered severe enough for them to be sent immediately to immigration detention centres to ensure they were off the streets while their cases are processed. The cumulative time in detention of the eight deported cases was over three years.
The Operation Bite methodology has been upheld by the High Court despite a judicial review on the grounds of 'abuse of process', brought by the first gang member targeted by the unit after he was told he was to be forcibly deported, Frezel Pocu.
Details on eight deported so far as supplied by the Met are as below:
FREZEL POKU [Nationality: Ghanaian] (17/11/87 - now aged 24 ys). First successful Op Bite subject deported (spring 2009), and first non-terrorist subject in UK deported following a police intelligence submission.
Croydon borough resident. First came to join his family in Britain at 15. Self-confessed member of a major Croydon gang involved in drugs, firearms, serious violence. Arrested for numerous gang-related robbery offences on public transport. Also convicted of robbery in 2007, attempted robbery 2008,
and two offences under the Road Traffic Act, which led to disqualified from driving.
His case is a good example of the authorities using 'open-source' intelligence (i.e. images obtained from his mobile phone showed his association with other gang members with firearms) as part of its argument during his appeal against deportation.
ANDREW DRUMMOND [Nationality: Jamaican].(10/9/82 - now aged 29 ys).
Southwark resident. Self-confessed member of Southwark gang. sentenced to four years in 2000 for rape; five years in 2005 for two armed commercial robberies. Brother (also gang member) fatally shot in 2000. Drummond himself was shot in 2005 and again in 2007 with Mach 10 machine-gun in front of 100 plus commuters at Tulse Hill train station in south London while with 30 other suspected gang members. In Feb 2009 his associate was shot dead with the same weapon (forensic link proved). Previous arrests for firearms and vehicle offences, intelligence indicated access to automatic weapons.
JERMAIN JARRETT [Nationality Jamaican] (15/6/90 - now aged 21 ys).
He was detained prior to the formation of Operation Bite, and deported after its launch. In an unprecedented move, authority was obtained from the Home Secretary to detain Jarrett at age 17 - the minimum is usually 18 - due to the risk he posed.
Southwark resident. Leader of his own gang from Southwark. Convicted of possession intent to supply crack cocaine; possession offensive weapon; possession heroin. Arrested for attempted murder (stabbing), GBH (two offences both stabbings); handling stolen goods and theft
OMAR WILDMAN [Nationality: Jamaican] (16/11/89 - now aged 22 ys).
Lambeth resident. Member of major Brixton-based gang. Stabbed in 2007and 2008 in incidents believed gang-related. Convicted of robbery, possession of heroin and cocaine. Arrested for possession of firearm with intent.
ANDREW WILLIAMS (twin of Anjay Williams - see below) [Nationality: Jamaican]. (23/8/84 - now aged 27 ys).
Southwark resident. Member of major Southwark gang. Convicted of robbery in 2004 (sentence 6 years), involving use of converted firearm. Charged with possession of firearm in Nov 2007 - later acquitted. Charged with attempted murder (stabbing) in Dec 2007 - acquitted.
ANJAY WILLIAMS (twin of Andrew Williams see above). [Nationality: Jamaican]. (23/8/84 - now aged 27 ys).
Southwark resident. Member of same major Southwark gang. Convicted of robbery offences, possession of firearm and an offensive weapon. Previous arrests for GBH with intent, robbery (including commercial robbery) and theft.
EVERALD HOWELL [Nationality: Jamaican]. (15/8/88 - now aged 23 ys).
roydon resident. Member of gang from Croydon/Lambeth, believed to be high-ranking member of prison-based section of this gang. Previously convicted of possession of firearm, heroin, carrying a knife, affray and theft.
ROOSEVELT ODIGIE [Nationality: Nigerian]. (30/12/86 - now aged 25 ys).
Southwark resident. Member of major Peckham based gang. Convicted of possession of butterfly knife, robbery, theft, possession of cannabis, driving offences, disorderly behaviour, resisting/obstructing a constable, criminal damage, common assault, failure to surrender to bail, failing to surrender to custody, breach of supervision and community punishment order.
Intelligence indicated he was a cross border supplier of Class A drugs, responsible for robbing other dealers, and had access to firearms. Also brother of Jude Odigie, convicted of manslaughter after the shooting of a female refugee from Sierra Leone that took place at a party in Peckham to celebrate the naming of a new baby.