Eleven people were arrested in Havering in mass raids as part of the Met’s fight against domestic violence.

The Christmas crackdown, codenamed Operation Athena, targeted dangerous and prolific offenders suspected of committing domestic violence and a range of hate crimes.

Arrests, on Wednesday morning (December 7), ranged from violence and common assault to breach of court orders.

The thrust of Operation Athena is to combat violence against women; however it also encompasses hate and faith crime.

This includes racist, homophobic, disability motivated crime and crimes against the vulnerable or elderly by members or their own family or carers.

It coincides with the MPS Domestic Violence (DV) publicity campaign reminding Londoners that ‘You make the Call, We’ll make it stop. Call 999’.

Havering’s Chief Superintendent Mick Smith said: “These are vile crimes that target people when they are most vulnerable. Our approach is very simple - if you commit a crime and we have the evidence then we will put you before the courts.

“The campaign is about intervening if you see or hear domestic abuse by dialing 999. People should not be suffering in silence.”

Nearly one in five murders in London are accounted for by DV.

Last year there were 48,419 domestic violence offences, 8,796 racist and religious hate crime offences and 1,335 homophobic offences.

The MPS has more than 500 specialist investigators working across the 32 community safety units - one in each borough dedicated to domestic violence and hate crime.

Deputy Mayor for Policing, Kit Malthouse said: “There is nothing more intolerable than the hideous violence carried out behind closed doors by so called ‘loved ones’.

“Today’s Operation sends a clear message to all offenders - you will be caught, you will be arrested, and you will be brought to justice.

“Nobody should have to endure the trauma of domestic, racist or hate abuse and I urge victims to come forward and report incidents.

“I would also encourage friends, family and neighbours to speak to police on behalf of victims if needed so we can investigate and stop these criminals in their tracks.”