Police officers swoop on suspected con artists on Westminster Bridge, London. Photo: Lucy Young/Evening Standard/PA Wire

Police use red bus to sneak up on suspected Westminster Bridge con artists

Friday, June 29, 2012
1:01 PM

Sneaky police found a new use for one of London’s red double-decker buses – creeping up on suspected gambling tricksters on Westminster Bridge.

A police officer holds one of the suspects' games as police swooped on alleged con artists on Westminster Bridge. Photo: Lucy Young/Evening Standard/PA Wire

Undercover Met Police officers commandeered a bus for a day which allowed them to pull up undetected right alongside alleged con artists preying on tourists.

Officers made a dozen arrests.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “By using the bus to arrive unseen and en masse officers were able to arrive right next to the suspects and quickly fill the area to prevent the suspects’ escape and make at least 12 arrests.”

London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “We are rightly clamping down on the gangs of illegal gamers and thieves who can make visiting central London a misery.

“We are weeks away from a fantastic Olympic Games and there is no place in our city for criminals who profit from preying on visitors.

“We are working to rid our streets of these criminal networks and our actions mean that visitors and Londoners will be better able to focus on the games and enjoy the best London has to offer.”

Hundreds of officers throughout this week have made more than 54 arrests in a crackdown on thieves and con artists on the streets of the capital called Operation Ursus.