South West forces work together to reduce harm caused by drugs

Police forces from across the South West have come together for their latest crackdown on drug supply networks operating across the area.

The latest week of intensification as part of the Operation Scorpion initiative involved a range of enforcement action carried out across the region, as well as education and prevention work taking place.

Avon & Somerset Police, Devon & Cornwall Police, Dorset Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary and Wiltshire Police teamed up with the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) to harness their collective capabilities in disrupting the supply of illegal drugs in the region. The operation also coincided with the national County Lines Intensification Week (CLIW).

In total across the region:

In Dorset 23 people were arrested and £26,134 in cash was seized as well as 2.5kg of cannabis, six wraps of crack, 92g of heroin, 0.45kg of cocaine seized plus ketamine, MDMA and mixing agents.

Officers also seized 10 weapons, including a knuckleduster, and five people were safeguarded.

Research shows that across the region more local children and vulnerable people in our communities are being exploited to supply and store drugs.

During this latest operation, forces had a focus around those who exploit children, enable drug dealers to operate in our communities or look the other way.

Regional Assistant Chief Constable Andy Hill, of the South West ROCU, said: “The number of arrests, together with the drugs and weapons seized, shows the determination across the region to target and disrupt the organised crime groups looking to profit from the exploitation of young and vulnerable people.”

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Callaghan, of Dorset Police, said: “By working together across the region, it gives us the best opportunity to tackle suspected criminal networks who are operating across our Force areas and exploiting vulnerable people, particularly young children.

“Our work continues to be supported by information and intelligence we receive from our communities, and we would continue to urge anyone with information relating to child exploitation or suspected drug related activity to please report it to us.”

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “These results show our commitment to tough enforcement when it comes to dealing with illegal drugs across the South West.”

To find out more about the signs of child exploitation through The Children’s Society’s Look Closer campaign visit https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/our-work/lookcloser.

If you suspect illegal drug activity is happening where you live, please report to the police.

Call 101 or report online at www.dorset.police.uk. If anyone is in immediate danger call 999.

If you wish to remain completely anonymous you can use Crimestoppers, an independent charity, by reporting online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ or by calling 0800 555 111.