‘Organised crime’ raid as 800 cops storm homes in 5 UK counties and officer stabbed

‘Organised crime’ raid as 800 cops storm homes in 5 UK counties and officer stabbed More than 800 officers from the Met Police launched dawn raids at 24 properties across five counties in the UK as part of a major organised crime probe this morning Major dawn raids were launched across the UK this morning as police arrested 17 people as part of probe into a suspected organised crime group. More than 800 officers from the Met Police launched raids at 24 properties across five counties - London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. An officer taking part in the operation was stabbed in the leg while carrying out a warrant at an address in Cockfosters, Barnet, the Met said. He was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital, where his injuries were assessed as non-life changing. A 56-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of GBH in relation to the stabbing. He was also arrested on suspicion of participating in the activities of an organised crime group, money laundering, tax evasion, false accounting and failing to disclose suspicion of money laundering. Police said searches remained under way at a number of properties, with an ongoing police presence expected at some locations for several days. The arrests follow months of investigation by specialist Met detectives working alongside HM Revenue and Customs and the Financial Conduct Authority. Officers from both organisations are also supporting the searches. As part of the wider operation, the FCA said it had disrupted seven firms and was actively pursuing a further 30. Details of the 17 arrests Police said the 17 people arrested were: A 65-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - Participating in the activities of an organised crime group - Conspiracy to commit GBH - Money laundering - Cheating the public revenue (tax evasion) A 31-year-old woman, arrested on suspicion of: - Conspiracy to commit GBH - Participating in the activities of an organised crime group A 56-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - GBH (in relation to the stabbing of the police officer) - Participating in the activities of an organised crime group - Money laundering - Cheating the public revenue (tax evasion) - False accounting - Failure to disclose suspicion of money laundering A 64-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - Participating in the activities of an organised crime group - Money laundering - Failure to disclose suspicion of money laundering A 56-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - Participating in the activities of an organised crime group - Money laundering - False accounting - Cheating the public revenue (tax evasion) A 47-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - Participating in the activities of an organised crime group - Money laundering - False accounting - Cheating the public revenue (tax evasion) - Contravening Regulation 86 of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017 A 31-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - Participating in the activities of an organised crime group - Money laundering - False accounting - Cheating the public revenue (tax evasion) - Contravening Regulation 86 of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017 A 30-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - Participating in the activities of an organised crime group - Money laundering - False accounting - Cheating the public revenue (tax evasion) - Contravening Regulation 86 of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017 A 26-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - Participating in the activities of an organised crime group - Money laundering - Cheating the public revenue (tax evasion) - False accounting A 49-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - Participating in the activities of an organised crime group A 47-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - Participating in the activities of an organised crime group - Conspiracy to commit GBH A 37-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - Participating in the activities of an organised crime group - Conspiracy to commit GBH A 43-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - Participating in the activities of an organised crime group - Money laundering A 41-year-old woman, arrested on suspicion of: - Money laundering - Cheating the public revenue (tax evasion) A 39-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - Money laundering A 38-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - Money laundering A 39-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of: - Money laundering - Cheating the public The Met said the arrests marked a significant stage in an investigation targeting people suspected of senior involvement in serious and organised crime. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “These arrests mark a significant point in this investigation. "Those arrested are suspected of leading or being involved at a senior level in serious and organised crime and related financial offending. “We know the impact of serious and organised crime stretches well beyond those at senior levels of the organisations involved. "Lines can often be drawn from the top, all the way to those involved in the criminality that blights communities, including serious violence and exploitation. “Investigating these groups is among the most complex work the Met undertakes. It requires a significant investment of time and money and the expertise not just of specialist police officers but of colleagues from partner organisations like HMRC and the FCA. “We hope these arrests show how determined we are to ensure organised crime groups cannot operate freely in London. We will work tirelessly to identify them, to gather evidence and to take action.” The FCA said the operation showed the importance of agencies working together to tackle financial crime. A Financial Conduct Authority spokesperson said: “Tackling financial crime requires the type of partnership shown by today’s joint action and the many months of close cooperation leading to it. “We’ll continue to work with the police and others to identify and disrupt organised crime groups who abuse our financial system to launder dirty money.” HMRC also highlighted the joint effort to tackle suspected money laundering and wider organised crime. An HMRC spokesperson said: “Today’s action highlights the importance of close collaboration between HMRC and other law enforcement partners in tackling serious and organised crime, including suspected money laundering and other criminal activity.”