Some of the capital’s highest harm offenders are behind bars thanks to the work of a team dedicated to tackling drugs supply in west London.

The Drugs Focus Desk, set up in West Area Basic Command Unit (BCU) in November 2019, has helped ensure that more drug dealers are charged and sentenced for drugs supply, rather than being dealt with for simple drugs possession.

Drug activity is known to be a key driver of violence and the Met is committed to targeting those involved to stem the associated violence.

The team, staffed by one Inspector, one Sergeant and four constables, provides assistance and advice to officers when they have a suspect in custody for a drugs offence.

This includes securing mobile phone data on the same day – while the suspect is still in custody – and rapid forensic testing of any drugs seized. Qualified ‘drug expert witnesses’ are also able to provide ‘expert evidence’, on issues such as phone data, the amount of drugs found and how they are packaged.

As a result, the suspect is far less likely to be bailed pending further enquiries.

Since the team launched, 83 per cent of those charged with drugs supply within the West Area have been convicted, with offenders receiving a total of 200 years custodial sentences including:

-Adonis Wilson, 30 (03.07.89) of Guinness Close, Hayes was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, possession with intent to supply heroin and possession of criminal property (cash) at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday, 2 March 2020.

Wilson was arrested after being seen acting suspiciously on Coldershaw Road, W13 in January and was found to have a quantity of drugs and cash in his possession. Urgent analysis organised by the Drugs Focus Desk determined the drugs to be 24 packages of crack cocaine with a street value of around £720 and five packages of heroin with a street value of around £100.

-Tarique Wong-Shaw, 21 (09.02.99) of Dairy Close, Greenford was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply Class B drugs along with possession of criminal property at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, 17 January.

Wong-Shaw was seen throwing 13 bags of cannabis and £4,250 in cash over a garden fence after being approached by police on patrol in Broadmead Road, Hayes. The Drugs Focus Desk conducted rapid phone downloads and obtained an urgent analysis of the drugs seized while he was in custody.

-Ibrahim Saeed, 21 (06.03.99), of no fixed address, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison in January after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin at Isleworth Crown Court.

On Wednesday, 6 November 2019, officers on patrol saw Saeed acting suspiciously on Bedfont Lane, Twickenham and attempted to engage with him.

After trying to hide behind a parked van, he was detained by officers who found a folding lock knife on the floor. He was arrested and taken into custody where a search revealed a large package of class A drugs inside the lining of his jacket.

The Drugs Focus Desk were contacted and used the Rapid Drugs Service to quickly forensically examine the drugs which were shown to be 12 packets of heroin and 40 packets of crack cocaine, at a street value of around £750. He was charged that day and remanded into custody.

Inspector Daniel Thompson, who heads up the team, said: “The damage caused by drug supply and drug-related violence cannot be underestimated and we must do all we can to get these offenders off our streets.

“This team is about ensuring that we take every possible opportunity and use the tactics and powers available to us, to secure the strongest and most appropriate charges from the Crown Prosecution Service while the suspects are in custody, which in most cases leads to more substantial sentences.

“No community should have to put up with drug dealing blighting their area and the associated violence that comes with it. Those who are involved in this kind of activity should know we are doing everything we can to identify and target them in efforts to put them behind bars.”

Community intelligence can also be used to great effect to not only detect, but also prevent drug activity and other crime, keep London safe and save young lives.

If you don’t want to speak to the police, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They are a totally independent charity and you remain 100 per cent anonymous, they never ask your name and they cannot trace your call, your IP address or device you use. Alternatively, visit their website https://crimestoppers-uk.org/.