I can scarcely believe the synicism shown by many members of the "Great British public" in their comments on this website regarding the operation.
Many serving officers have dedicated great time and effort in conducting this operation
Sounds to me like they don't deserve a police service they have gradually attempted to erode through adverse comments and propaganda over the last 20 years.
I hope they or any of their families do not fall foul of criminality.
That may or may not tame their incredible comments

paul, london,

I would disagree with your suggestion that this was overkill. Criminal activity on Blackstock Road is overt, severe, deeply entrenched, longstanding and is now affecting the entire local community (as well as a much wider area of London considering that many stolen items are traded here). I live next to Blackstock Road and the very obvious escalation of crime here recently has been truly frightening (lived in London for years and have never seen anything like it). I was mugged at gunpoint in January and burglaries/bag snatches are becoming an every day occurance. People are literally too frightened to walk home from the tube station. For the past few months the police have been fantastic and responsive where I and my neighbours have been concerned and they face an absolutely enourmous task here. I might actually walk home tonight, something I've been too frightened to do since January.

Sam, Finsbury Park, London,

Wouldn't 3 police offices stationed in that street for 333 days have achieved a similar aim?

MarkS, Leeds,

So much for Labour's claim crime has fallen. I guess stealing doesn't count as a crime any,more.

John, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong

More than a 1000 offices to raid just 56 addresses!

So why is it when ever you call the police after a burglary they never have anybody available - perhaps victims of such crimes should call the newspapers and get a few photographers round, the police would probably turn up in their hundreds then

Gordon Bowerman, kitzbuhel, Austria

I live near the Blackstock Road and would like to congratulate the police on finally cracking down on the various shops / fronts etc that sell stolen goods / drugs etc.

Simon Albion, North London, uk

Lots of sympathy for the poor old criminals then ! After all, there's nothing in the Koran or the Bible about handling stolen goods of forged passports--rotten old police again. Lets face it, they are always in the wrong.

edward johns, Lannion, France

"That's like terrorists parading their hostages & saying "See! We treat our hostages so well!"

"Poor civilians there should be freed! They have no human rights to live in their neighbourhood. A normal Brizilian London citizen was shot dead with no excuse, just because he is a foriegner and looks like muslim."

"Free Northern London! "

CAUTION! The people who have been slandered could have said the same to you!

Joe, London, UK

Wow, no wonder you can never find one on the streets in towns and villages, they are all pouncing around London.

Farrukh, Woking, UK

"Shoppers were stopped and questioned at cordons at each exit to the street as they attempted to leave."

This will be happening every day when we have ID cards.

Kay Tie, York,

1,000 police officers between them arrested 37 people: That's 27 officers to arrest each detained person. How many were charged with anything? 30? 7? 1? Hardly cost effective.

James Kirby, Twickenham,