Operation Trident

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For the naval attack of the same name, see Operation Trident (Indo-Pakistani War)

Operation Trident logo

Operation Trident, now referred to as just Trident, is a Metropolitan Police Service initiative set up to deal with gun crime in London's black community. It was set up in March 1998 following a series of shootings in the London boroughs of Lambeth and Brent. Special attention is placed on drug-related shootings. The importance of Trident is such that it was established as a dedicated Operational Command Unit (OCU) as part of the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crime Directorate. In 2004 it expanded, with the formation of Operation Trafalgar, which investigates all other non-fatal shootings in London. The OCU is now called simply Trident & Trafalgar.

The aim of the campaign is reached via gun amnesties and adverts encouraging people to phone Crimestoppers with information related to gun crime. These adverts appear in the media, nightclubs, on petrol pumps, phone boxes and on the radio.