Dawn raids targeting gang members and violent offenders took place in the early hours of this morning, with a number of properties in Wandsworth being searched by police.

As part of the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Connect, 27 Wandsworth homes were searched along with 14 other addresses across six other boroughs during a pan-London “hit day”, in a bid to tackle gang-related activity.

Seventeen Wandsworth men between the ages of 15-35 were arrested for offences including conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession with intent to supply, and are currently being interviewed at a number of south London police stations.

About £10,000 in cash was seized as well as drugs, various drug dealing paraphernalia such as scales, mobile phones and jewellery which was believed to be stolen.

MPS Territorial Policing Commander Steve Rodhouse, said: "Today’s raids demonstrate our determination to continue to dismantle gang networks that are responsible for a disproportionate amount of criminality in London.

"They also send out a clear message that drug dealing, which can fuel many other gang-related activities, will not be tolerated.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Mick McNally revealed eight different gangs across south London had been the target of today’s raids.

He said: “Operation Connect is an operation targeting violent offenders who are linked to gang activity.

“We are targeting individuals we know are violent and are working within the cohort of a gang. Gangs are cowardly individuals who hunt in packs.

“The message is if you are involved in gang activity, we will be relentless in our operations. It is about taking out the most harmful individuals within the boroughs of London.”

Operation Connect seeks to join up intelligence on gang members held by the Met, communities and partner agencies to compile a database of high-risk members of the public, where there is expected to be more than 1,000 on the list.

From this information, resources will be put into stopping the threat of these people, using different methods such as seizing financial assets and uninsured vehicles and taking out ‘gang injunctions’.

The operation will also be working alongside local police teams to help youngsters wanting to leave gangs or those who are at risk of getting involved in them.

Deputy Mayor of London with responsibility for the Metropolitan Police, Kit Malthouse, was present at a raid in the Doddington and Rollo Estate in Battersea.

He said: “It (the operation) is fantastic news for Battersea and for large parts of London.

“It’s easy to sit in central London and do everything on paper but I wanted to see it for real.

“We want to hammer the gangs. Londoners do not want these people in charge of their streets, we want the police in charge.

"There is more to come. So if you're dealing drugs and luring kids into gangs, listen carefully for that 5am knock."

Four other arrests were made across Merton, Sutton, Kingston, Waltham Forest, Lambeth and Croydon for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.