The article stated between January and March 2025, London Bridge saw 205 stop and searches – 35% of which resulted in items being recovered, including large weapons, Class A and B drugs, and stolen goods.

This is well above the national average find rate (approximately 15–20%), demonstrating that these operations are intelligence-led, targeted, and effective in tackling crime.

This high volume of stop and searches reflects the excellent work of our local policing partners, particularly our funded British Transport Police (BTP) officer, PC Lee Noble. PC Noble regularly leads ‘Operation Defiant’, which brings together officers from the Metropolitan Police, BTP, and City of London Police to share expertise and disrupt the movement of drugs and weapons through one of the UK’s busiest rail interchanges.

A Fair and Proactive Process

Most searches at London Bridge during these intelligence-led operations are triggered by passive drug detection dogs, which identify substances by scent. These dogs cannot profile individuals – they simply indicate a possible detection, forming part of an officer’s lawful grounds for a search.

Independent Advisory Group (IAG) members frequently observe these operations to ensure fairness, transparency, and public confidence. During a recent multi-agency operation at London Bridge, IAG member Amanda Gibbs described police conduct as “superb”, praising the professionalism, safeguarding approach, and collaborative working between multiple agencies.

Proactive policing is essential to keeping the public safe. BTP has reported a 15% year-on-year rise in serious knife offences in London, and stop and search remains one of the most effective tools for removing weapons, disrupting serious crime, and tackling county lines drug trafficking.

Preventing Harm and Saving Lives

We are proud of the professionalism and dedication of the officers working to keep London Bridge safe. These operations are not about targeting communities; they are about preventing serious harm and saving lives.

See more about our Safety and Security commitments here.