Launch of the Drugs Squad at Poplar Recreation Ground
- Top 50 offenders targeted in crackdown on individuals, not just locations.
- Combining referrals and support with targeted enforcement, the team can respond effectively to individuals involved in drug-related offences and ASB.
Tower Hamlets Council is the first in the country to create its own specialist Drugs Squad designed to tackle substance misuse and associated anti-social behaviour.
Launching the specialist Drug Squad today after a successful pilot, Executive Mayor Lutfur Rahman said "following years of austerity and cuts to police budgets, this innovative and high impact approach represents a cost-effective way for councils to address these persistent issues" and "I hope other councils will follow our lead."
Early results from the pilot demonstrate the positive impact of this dedicated team in addressing persistent issues related to drug crime and anti-social behaviour. By combining referrals and support with targeted enforcement, the team is able to respond effectively to individuals involved in drug-related offences and ASB.
A £50,000 drugs seizure, clearance of an area used for drug-taking and support offers to vulnerable residents caught up in illegal drugs have been some of achievements of Tower Hamlets Drugs Squad – just three months after the Squad was formed for an initial pilot.
The seven-officer team, believed to be the first council team of its kind in the UK which is solely dedicated to tackling this issue, combines enforcement with tailored support for vulnerable people with the aim of tackling substance misuse and related anti-social behaviour.
Working closely with police, the council’s CCTV and enforcement teams, and the Specialist Substance Misuse Investigations Team (SSMIT), and other local services, the squad is using a new model of community safety, one that targets the borough’s most prolific offenders while offering pathways to support.
The new approach focuses on individuals, not just locations, using a list of 50 high-impact offenders whose behaviour is monitored and addressed through escalating interventions.
Key results from the first three months:
- £50,000 drug seizure in Blackwall Way car park: Drugs Squad Officers and the K9 Unit uncovered a large stash of Class B drugs in an abandoned vehicle, including cannabis, paraphernalia, and false number plates. The operation, supported by the council’s CCTV control room and police, represents a major disruption to local supply chains.
- Drugs use disrupted in local green space: Officers discovered a hidden encampment in dense shrubbery near a bus layby, complete with sofa, table, and chairs. The team supported individuals on site, gathered intelligence on two suspected drug dealers, and worked with the Clean & Green Team to redesign the area to prevent future misuse.
- Targeted enforcement and support for prolific offenders: The squad has delivered 2260 hours of patrols and referred 69 individuals with substance misuse issues to the Specialist Substance Misuse Investigations Team (SSMIT). Using a data-led approach, the team identified 50 individuals responsible for the highest levels of drug-related antisocial behaviour and is applying a tailored mix of support and enforcement to drive change.
- Community-led intelligence and rapid response: Following concerns raised at a Poplar Ward Panel, officers identified and challenged a key individual linked to multiple anti-social behaviour hotspots. An ASB Warning was issued, and an injunction is being pursued. The team has also attended ten community meetings and conducted door-to-door engagement in eleven areas.
- Building strong casework and disrupting networks: Eleven suspected drug dealers have been identified and reported to police. Two full evidential packages on Class A dealing in Whitechapel, including CCTV footage and named suspects, have been submitted. Ten arrests have been facilitated, and three Criminal Behaviour Orders have been secured.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:
"I'm proud that we have become the first council in the country to create a specialist team dedicated to tackling organised drug crime and supporting people with a route out of addiction and antisocial behaviour.
"Following years of austerity and cuts to police budgets, this innovative and high impact approach represents a cost-effective way for councils to address these persistent issues which are affecting communities across the country and I hope other councils will follow our lead."
Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Integrated Enforcement, added:
“We are officially launching the Drugs Squad today, after a pilot saw the Squad have a significant impact and delivering swift results. We’re proud to be leading the way with this innovative model. It’s about listening to our communities, acting on what they tell us, exploring new and effective ways of working and making our streets safer for everyone.”
Former Met Chief Superintendent and Community Safety Director Dal Babu said:
"Tower Hamlets Council is the first to adopt this innovative approach and I'm sure other local authorities will follow. This is such an important initiative because we have to work differently to address these persistent problems. The police can't do it alone. They're focusing, as we'd expect, on the organised criminal networks when it comes to drug dealing. The drugs squad is a new trauma-informed approach to tackling antisocial behaviour issues."
The Drug Squad was officially launched today with an event at Poplar Recreation Ground, with Executive Mayor Lutfur Rahman, Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury, members of the Drug Squad and wider Integrated Enforcement Service from Tower Hamlets Council, and those offering referral services in Tower Hamlets.
The Drugs Squad is part of an £8 million investment into community safety. Tower Hamlets has already invested over £4million in enforcement resources since 2022, with another £4million to be invested by 2026.
Posted on Tuesday 18th November 2025