Suspected members of the 'Thugs of Stonebridge' gang were arrested in a series of dawn raids

Drugs, mobile phones and laptops seized in raids carried out following the London riots

Suspected members of the 'Thugs of Stonebridge' gang were arrested in a series of dawn raids

Police raided the homes of suspected members of the ‘Thugs of Stonebridge’ gang in a series of dawn raids this morning.

Officers stormed 23 addresses on the Stonebridge Estate where they arrested 14 people on suspicion of a variety of criminal offences.

Drugs, mobile phones and laptops were seized by officers and searches of all the properties continue throughout the day.

The raids were carried out following evidence gathered against suspected gang members during and after the London riots last summer.

Last August, 22 suspected members were arrested in West Ella Road, Harlesden, after they were caught running from two transit vans which police believe they were travelling in to loot businesses in the borough.

All were bailed and evidence gathered since then has culminated in today’s raids in which 14 of them have been held.

Chief Superintendent Matthew Gardner, Brent Borough Commander, said: “We will continue to relentlessly pursue gangs and gang members through proactive operations and investigations such as this.

“Although most young people in Brent and London are law-abiding, good citizens, we know there are too many who are in gangs or could get involved in, gangs.

“These arrests also demonstrate our commitment to prosecute all those who took part in the London disorder and come at a time when Operation Withern have now made more than 4000 arrests.”

Officers are leafleting homes on the Stonebridge Estate and a community meeting to discuss today’s events will be held this evening (Thursday) at 7pm.

The meeting will take place at Sattavis Patidar Centre, Forty Lane near the junction with The Avenue, Wembley Park.