THE MET POLICE has announced that it will be pursuing moped and motorcycle criminals "at every opportunity", and has released a compilation of ‘take outs’ to support this promise.
The head of the Met's Operation Venice Team has today promised that these thugs will be targeted even when they ride dangerously, discard their helmets and disguise themselves.
Footage shared to the Met’s site show the tactics that specially trained drivers are able to use to take out these criminals, thus reducing the need for pursuits and preventing injury to bystanders. They also use DNA forensic tagging and the use of automatic tyre deflation devices.
The police hope that this footage will deter potential offenders, and continue to reduce moped crime in the capital.
Despite what appears to be an ever growing wave of moped theft and moped-enabled crime in London, the Met has revealed that there has been a 44 per cent decrease year-on-year of the former, and a 38 per cent decrease of the latter.
From January 2017 to October 2017 there were 19,455 moped crime offences across London, whereas in the same period this year there were 12,419 offences (7,036 fewer offences).
And from January 2017 to October 2017 there were 12,192 offences across London compared to January 2018 to October 2018 when there were 8,261 offences (3,931 fewer offences).
Commander Amanda Pearson of Frontline Policing, said: "The Met is at the forefront of tackling moped and motorcycle crime and I am pleased to see that we have seen a reduction in offences. However, we are not complacent and we will continue to work tirelessly across London to maintain this downward trend.
"Operation Venice can call on all manner of tactics from an experienced investigation team to police helicopters to tackle and arrest offenders.
"There is a perception that if you remove your helmet or fail to stop for police when requested to do so we will not take any further course of action. This is untrue.
"The public quite rightly expects us to intervene to keep London safe. Our highly trained police drivers weigh up the risks and decide upon the most appropriate tactics in those circumstances.
"Offenders on mopeds and motorcycles who attempt to evade the police are making a choice that puts themselves and others at risk.
"So our message is clear: we can, we will and we do target those involved in moped and motorcycle crime at every opportunity."
