Dorset Police to crackdown on drug use this winter

There's to be a special police operation in Dorset this winter to crack down the use of drugs.

Anyone who deals or takes cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy on nights out will be targeted.

We're told officers will 'shift their focus' onto 'engaging' with users, as well as tackling dealers.

Operation Scorpion is a joint effort from five police forces - Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Avon & Somerset and Devon & Cornwall - and will start next month.

How will it work?

Drug users will be offered help and support and encouraged to consider the harmful effects of drugs on health and the violence and criminality involved in the supply chain.

It's expected that multiple arrests, warrants and seizures will be made.

Police and Crime Commissioners in the South West are challenging the term ‘recreational’ often used to describe drugs like cocaine and cannabis, instead describing them as ‘illegal gateway drugs’.

Dorset PCC David Sidwick has called for a review of the classification of cannabis, arguing that the harm it does to society is greatly under-estimated:

“All of the five regional forces and commissioners are working together to help protect our residents and communities from the harm that illegal drugs do.

“I would ask those who take illegal drugs or think that ‘drug taking’ is no big deal, and that it doesn’t do any ‘real harm’ to think again and maybe consider those vulnerable children who are ‘groomed’ into selling cannabis or MDMA, those who are subjected to the practices of modern slavery by organised crime groups to produce the drugs you may take at the weekend and those who are treated with violence and intimidation to make sure you have your ‘fix’ - there is absolutely nothing ‘recreational’ about any of that.

“Illegal drug use is just that – illegal - and the partners of Op. Scorpion will continue to work together - targeting criminality, taking drugs off our streets, sharing intelligence, protecting the vulnerable and putting a ring of steel around the South West.”

Operation Scorpion has been running across the South West for a few months.

So far, it's resulted in 127 arrests and 465 disruptions to drugs lines.

There's been more than £180,000 in cash seized, along with weapons and drugs; and a total of 297 vulnerable people safeguarded and offered support.

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