News Article

South West forces work together to reduce harm caused by drugs

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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:

  • 102 people were arrested
  • 65.7kg of cocaine was seized, plus 274g of crack cocaine,13.9kg of cannabis and 455grams of heroin
  • £119,326 in cash was seized
  • 38 people were safeguarded
  • 29 suspected county lines were shut down
  • 17 vehicles were seized, including six e-bikes
  • 100 mobile phones were seized
  • 26 weapons were seized

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.

As part of their efforts to educate and inform key industries that may be unknowingly enabling drug supply networks to conduct their operations and exploit vulnerable people, officers also worked with hotels, taxi and private hire companies and postal operators to raise awareness of the signs of exploitation and encourage them to report any concerns.

Work was also carried out with young people and schools to educate them around the risks associated with illegal vapes. Not only do they pose serious health risks, it is believed criminals are recruiting young people to sell these illegal products, opening them up to potential further exploitation.

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.

“But just as crucial is the huge joint effort that’s been put into preventing them from being exploited in the first place, both through education of businesses and engagement with young people and professionals.

“It’s a stark reality that the average age of someone controlling a drugs line is 21, and the average age of a drug runner is just 15 to 17. Effectively tackling this is about everyone recognising the need to Look Closer to spot the signs of a young or vulnerable person being exploited and speaking up for them.”

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.

“As well as robust enforcement activity, we also recognise the need to target those sectors where these criminal networks may be operating, to highlight the signs to look out for and encourage reporting so we can safeguard vulnerable people and maximise our intelligence picture.

“We will continue to work together to tackle these issues and make the South West a hostile environment for these suspected criminals to operate in.

“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.

“Robustly tackling those intent on causing our communities harm is vital, and thanks to this powerful partnership working to put a ring of steel around the South West, Operation Scorpion has once again showed its value, closing down county lines and protecting vulnerable people, including children.

“This iteration has focused on child exploitation and those who enable the illegal drug networks to operate, so it is key that alongside tough enforcement, education and intervention has been taking place with key industries including the taxi trade and hotels as well as young people. By recognising the signs and behaviours to look out for, we can all play our part in smashing these gangs and send a clear message that this region will not tolerate this harmful criminal activity.

“I would urge anyone who has intelligence around suspected drug activity in their community to report to the police. Through Operation Scorpion, we are working hard to target criminality, take drugs off the streets, protect the vulnerable and shutdown county lines. Your information could be the final piece of the puzzle, as we work to make the region #NoPlaceForDrugs.”

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.

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