Takeaway takedown! Moment police disguised as food delivery driver and street cleaner pounce on knife suspect
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By LETTICE BROMOVSKY, NEWS REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
A wanted man carrying a machete was caught in a police ambush after officers went undercover as a takeaway courier and a street cleaner.
Roy Hallissey had been keeping clear of officers despite regularly turning up at a market in Poplar, east London.
Police knew the area was one of his regular haunts and that he travelled there on a powerful electric bike.
But their attempts to locate him had been complicated by the fact that Hallissey would avoid the market whenever he noticed police nearby.
That prompted officers to take a more unconventional approach.
Instead of arriving in uniform, two Metropolitan Police officers blended into the surroundings.
One posed as a street cleaner, complete with a handcart, while another adopted the appearance of a takeaway delivery worker.
The officers then closed in on Hallissey from separate directions, catching him by surprise and preventing him from making another getaway.
Roy Hallissey had been keeping clear of officers despite regularly turning up at a market in Poplar, east London
Instead of arriving in uniform, two Metropolitan Police officers blended into the surroundings
When they searched him, they discovered a large machete hidden around his waist.
Hallissey was already wanted after being convicted of a stabbing but failing to turn up for the hearing at which he was due to be sentenced.
He was also wanted in connection with a separate allegation involving an assault on an emergency worker, after failing to attend court over that charge.
The arrest also uncovered a breach of a criminal behaviour order which had barred him from the Poplar area.
Insp Frank Hartley, from the neighbourhood team, said: 'Not only was Hallissey caught in breach of a behaviour order which was meant to prevent him being in the area, he was also found in possession of a dangerous weapon which may well have been used to inflict serious violence.
'Across the Met we are working every day to identify, locate and prosecute wanted offenders because we know the harm that they cause to communities, and the likelihood they will go on to commit further crimes.
'Through careful planning and some creative tactics, officers were able to identify and arrest Hallissey and he is now back in custody awaiting sentencing.'
Hallissey was taken before Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, May 29, where he admitted a series of offences.
These included possessing a bladed article, breaching his criminal behaviour order, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified.
He also pleaded guilty to assaulting police and escaping lawful custody.
He is due to return to court for sentencing on Wednesday, October 7.
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