A suspected sex offender was apprehended by South East London officers during a police raid conducted at a shop located on New Cross Road. The operation followed intelligence suggesting that the business may have been involved in the sale of stolen goods.
On Thursday, January 18, Police officers initiated an inspection of the premises, which subsequently led to the discovery of a significant cache of items suspected to have been stolen. Additionally, the authorities found £15,000 in cash on the premises.
Initially, the suspect was taken into custody on suspicion of handling stolen goods. However, as the investigation progressed, officers uncovered troubling information that the arrested individual had previously faced allegations of non-recent sexual assaults involving girls under the age of 13.
In light of this disturbing development, the Metropolitan Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team was immediately alerted, leading to the individual’s further arrest on suspicion of sexual offences.
DC Mara Phipps, a dedicated Lewisham child protection team member within the Metropolitan Police, emphasized the organization’s unwavering commitment to protecting women and children. She stated, “Protecting women and children is a key priority for the Met, and we investigate incredibly complex and sad crimes. Our team pour their heart and soul into working with victims to get them the justice they deserve.”
Acting Inspector Ryan West, who leads one of the teams that conducted the initial inspection, underscored the importance of community policing and acting on issues that concern local neighbourhoods. He stated, “This operation was a direct result of local officers acting upon intelligence from the community which has led to further arrests for multiple offences. This shows the importance of community policing. We are working hard to act on issues we know worry our neighbourhoods and are using data and insight to precisely target where the problems are.”
The arrest underscores the diligent efforts of Police to address both property crimes and serious offences against vulnerable individuals within the community.
The investigation into the suspected handling of stolen goods and the sexual offences continues, with authorities committed to ensuring justice is served. Further details about the case are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
