Police officers, Ealing Council teams and specialist dog units carried out a large-scale enforcement and clean-up operation on the Havelock Estate in Southall earlier this month, removing suspected weapons, drug paraphernalia and 17 vehicles from the area.
The operation, led by the Metropolitan Police’s Norwood Green Safer Neighbourhood Team on 5 May 2026, involved officers working alongside several teams from Ealing Council, including Safer Communities, Estates, Environmental and Parking Enforcement, Highways officers, and private security firm Park Guard Ltd.
Specialist dog teams were deployed during the operation, including a drugs detection dog and a general purpose dog.
The drugs dog searched communal stairwells, alleyways and undercroft areas across the estate after reports of suspected drug activity. While no controlled drugs were recovered, officers said drug-related paraphernalia, including crack pipes, was found and removed.
The general purpose dog also helped officers uncover several concealed items believed capable of being used as weapons, including pieces of wood, serrated copper piping, a hammer and screwdrivers hidden behind walls and in bushes. All items were safely removed and disposed of.
Council teams also cleared large amounts of fly-tipped waste and rubbish from communal areas and car parks before disinfecting and cleaning affected locations.
Police Constable Ramesh Ashta, Norwood Green SNT, said: “This operation was a really positive example of partnership working to improve safety and the environment for residents living on the Havelock Estate.
“While no drugs were recovered, we did remove drug paraphernalia and a number of concealed items that could potentially have been used as weapons.
“We also received really encouraging feedback from residents during the day, with people welcoming the visible police and council presence and asking for more operations like this in future.
“We will continue working closely with our partners and the local community to tackle antisocial behaviour, environmental issues and crime concerns across the area.”
Police said the operation also allowed officers to engage directly with residents, with eight people approaching the team during the day to express support for the visible police and council presence and to request more operations of a similar nature.
A total of 17 vehicles were removed from the estate and surrounding roads, including three identified by overnight enforcement teams. Follow-up action is now being taken with housing officers, with tenancy breach warnings expected where vehicles are linked to council tenants.
Residents can report fly-tipping, abandoned vehicles and environmental concerns through the Ealing Council report-it page or via the Love Clean Streets app
