Met raids seize 20 'weapon dogs'

'Weapon dogs' seized during raids

Twenty dogs have been seized from the homes of suspected gang members in south London during police raids.

The mostly pit bull terrier type dogs, which included a litter of six four-week-old puppies, were taken from 12 addresses in Lambeth.

Operation Navara targeted 'weapon dogs', which the Metropolitan Police believes are used for fighting and for intimidation purposes.

Since March this year the Met's Status Dog Unit has seized 273 dogs.

Officers from Lambeth Police said the operation was in response to complaints from neighbours.

'Status symbol'

Specialist officers wore protective gear with padded sleeves as they forced their way into the houses and tackled the animals using special poles.

Two adult pit bulls and the litter of puppies were seized from the house of a woman in Renfrew Road, Kennington, who was previously warned about the dogs.

Gangs carry knives and guns and they keep pit bulls as a weapon and as a status symbol Supt Clive Wakeley

The dogs would be examined before a court would decide their fate, including the possibility they could be put down, the Met said.

Sgt Ian McPartland, who heads the Status Dog Unit, said: "Our concerns are over the way they will be used by the gang member who is associated with the address.

"If you have got a pit bull at the end of the leash the potential for it going seriously wrong does rise.

"I spent 25 years as a dog handler and now I'm out there taking dogs off people who really don't know how to treat them."

Lambeth North Supt Clive Wakeley said: "Gangs carry knives and guns and they keep pit bulls as a weapon and as a status symbol."

Please send your comments to [e-mail]