Police officer stabbed during huge organised crime gang raid across the UK

A police officer was stabbed in the leg during dawn raids in London and across four counties on a suspected organised crime gang.

Twenty-four addresses were raided early on Tuesday, with 17 people arrested on suspicion of a raft of offences including participating in the activities of an organised crime gang, and money laundering.

Raids took place in London as well as Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. The officer was stabbed in Cockfosters, Barnet, north London.

They were taken to hospital and their injury is not life-changing, the Metropolitan Police said.

The arrests come as part of an investigation by the Met along with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The Met said the FCA has “disrupted” seven businesses and is “actively pursuing” another 30.

A spokesperson 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.”

In total, 17 people were arrested – 15 men aged between 26 and 65, and two women aged 31 and 41.

Twelve men and one woman were held on suspicion of participating in the activities of an organised crime group.

Other offences included money laundering, cheating the public revenue, false accounting, and conspiracy to commit GBH.

A 56-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of GBH over the stabbing.

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."

Details of the arrests:

[A] 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)

[B] A 31-year-old woman, arrested on suspicion of:

• Conspiracy to commit GBH
• Participating in the activities of an organised crime group

[C] 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

[D] 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

[E] 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)

[F] 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

[G] 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

[H] 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

[I] 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

[J] A 49-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of:

• Participating in the activities of an organised crime group

[K] A 47-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of:

• Participating in the activities of an organised crime group
• Conspiracy to commit GBH

[L] A 37-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of:

• Participating in the activities of an organised crime group
• Conspiracy to commit GBH

[M] A 43-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of:

• Participating in the activities of an organised crime group
• Money laundering