Pupils will be greeted by Newham Council enforcement officers and police outside school gates at home time this afternoon as part of Operation Ohio.

A ‘high visibility reassurance patrol’ will be stationed outside every school in the Little Ilford and Manor Park wards as part of the 48 hour crime crackdown that is due to end at 7.30am tomorrow morning.

In addition to three arrests, including one on suspicion of possession of a Class A drug, three properties also have been identified for multiple occupancy this afternoon.

One is being investigated by the UK Border Agency, one by HMRC for tax evasion, and the landlord of the third will be prosecuted by the council.

A number of commercial premises have also been targeted as part of the initiative including four premises on Romford Road that have been issued with enforcement notices over trade waste.

An off-license and grocery was also visited by a Trading Standards and Licensing team resulting in the shop failing a test purchase operation to confirm a license breach, resulting in a seizure of suspected counterfeit tobacco and alcohol.

The teams will now move to pro-active patrols into the evening and overnight.