POLICE continued to crack down on the sale of bongs in Camden Town this week with the seizure of glass pipes and rolling papers.

Officers raided a souvenir shop in Camden High Street on Tuesday as part of an operation they hope will end the area’s reputation as ­“London’s Amsterdam”.

The shopkeeper was being ­interviewed by police yesterday (Wednesday).

A letter was sent to shop owners last month outlining the new policy, which effectively bans the sale of items believed to be linked to drug-taking, stating that police were looking to end the “culture of tacit acceptance” that they said was created by the open sale of drug paraphernalia.

The letter said: “We have repeatedly tried to tackle drug-dealing in and around Camden Lock, and have made a large number of arrests and convictions. However, the drug dealers are shortly replaced by more drug dealers. This endless tide is due to the location’s notoriety for being a place to come and buy drugs.”

They were warned they face being raided as police begin enforcing section 9a of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which prohibits the supply of “any article which may be used to prepare a controlled drug for ­administration”.

The policy has been criticised by drug legalisation campaigners and former police officer Neil Wood, who worked undercover to catch dealers.

“I find it quite sinister that police should decide it’s their job to police culture,” said Mr Wood.

This week’s action follows a raid on a stall in Buck Street market last month, which saw 20 bags of cannabis seized alongside drug paraphernalia.