WATCH: Showing criminals that the South West is #NoPlaceForDrugs
Earlier this month we were invited along to a drugs raid by Avon and Somerset Police, where they worked with colleagues across the South West to tackle cross border drugs supply activities.
Last updated 22nd Mar 2022
In a significant new approach, police across the South West have combined their operational powers to tackle cross border drugs supply activities.
Operation Scorpion took place from 7th March 2022 and across the South West led to:
• 194 arrests in connection with drugs related offences
• 55 warrants carried out
• 400 drug line disruptions
• £404K (at least) of suspected drugs seized
• £131K (at least) of cash seized
• 320 vulnerability / welfare checks carried out and people safeguarded
• A vast array of weapons seized including tasers knives and machetes
The five regional police services (Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire), alongside their respective offices of Police and Crime Commissioners, the British Transport Police, South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SW ROCU) and the charity Crimestoppers, set aside regional boundaries, just as criminals engaging in drugs activity do, to harness their collective power and disrupt the South West drugs market. They dismantled drugs supply networks and arrested those who profit from selling illegal substances.
Coinciding activity with National County Lines Intensification Week led by the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), police officers used a range of tactics. They included enhanced surveillance of the road and transport networks, increased high visibility patrols in areas of high demand, carrying out warrants at addresses used for drug dealing and welfare checks on vulnerable people.
Speaking on behalf of the five regional police forces, Assistant Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, Mark Cooper said:
“This operation is about combining the resources, intelligence and enforcement powers of all the police forces across the South West to create a “ring of steel” against organised criminals looking to cause harm in this part of the country.
“We know that those who supply and distribute illegal drugs operate in a borderless way, creating complex networks of drugs lines in our towns and cities, and we need to mirror that if we are going to be successful in taking a strong and robust stance against this sort of criminality.”
On behalf of the five Police and Crime Commissioners, Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner and APCC co-chair for Substance Misuse and Addiction, David Sidwick said: “This is the first time that all five forces in the South West have come together with the same priority – to hit those involved in illegal drug activities and County Lines. I am extremely proud of the way in which all the partner agencies have worked together to coordinate this unique operation.
“Criminals don’t see county borders when it comes to drug supply and dealing activities and now, neither do we. The message to those involved is clear – don’t come to the South West because Scorpion will be waiting and it has a nasty sting in its tail!”
Anyone with information about illegal drugs activity should report it to their local police service online, or via 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.
To pass on information anonymously, speak to the independent charity Crimestoppers 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year on 0800 555 111 or use their non-traceable online form. Contact will remain 100% anonymous. Always. They will never ask for a name or contact details and the phone call or online report will never be traced. If the information supplied leads to an arrest and charge, there could be a cash reward of up to £1,000.
Avon and Somerset Police
• 64 arrests
• 17 warrants executed
• Five known county lines disrupted, and approximately 350 pieces of disruption work relating to organised criminal gangs
• 178 visits and or / safeguarding checks to vulnerable people’s addresses
• At least 44 educational visits to schools, youth clubs, colleges and scouting groups, to engage with young people, parents, teachers and other professional practitioners about exploitation and grooming
• Partnership work across the board with Avon and Somerset Police working closely with other police forces, housing agencies, taxi licensing, Border Force, outreach workers, local community leaders, Bristol Drugs Project, The One25 Project, other drug and alcohol misuse support services, health workers and HM Prison Services, amongst others
• At least 41 weapons sweeps and 69 additional patrols in areas of high demand for drug dealing / misuse and serious violence
• A significant number of intelligence reports gathered helping us to better direct resources going forward and to help safeguard vulnerable people
Dorset Police
• 18 arrests
• 17 warrants executed
• A number of weapons seized included tasers, machetes, nunchakus and an extendable baton
• Around £100,000 cash seized
• Six county lines disrupted
• 17 disruptions linked to 36 vulnerable members of the community that have been visited and their welfare checked
• Partnership work with: HMRC, Dorset Fire and Rescue, Trading Standards, other police forces
• Increased uniform presence in identified hotspots. Reassurance provided to the public around police presence
• Fifteen intelligence reports gathered helping us to better direct resources going forward and to help safeguard vulnerable people
Devon and Cornwall Police
• 20 arrests
• Approximately £21,000 worth of drugs seized
• Approximately £7600 of cash seized
• 21 disruptions to drugs supply lines
• 21 safeguarding and vulnerability visits
Gloucestershire Police
• 19 arrests
• 11 warrants executed
• Two drugs lines disrupted
• Approximately £130k worth of suspected drugs seized
• 20 vulnerability checks carried out
Wiltshire Police
• 20 arrests
• 10 warrants executed
• 24 vehicles stopped
• Seven drugs lines shut down
• Approximately £12,500 worth of cash seized
• Up to £3,000 worth of drugs seized
• 42 vulnerability checks completed
• 11 safeguarding referrals made and 200 drug users contacted signposting them to partner support agencies
British Transport Police
• 23 arrests
• 34 operations
• 19 joint operations
• 12 people safeguarded
• 22 drugs seizures
• Nine weapons recovered
• £11,365 in cash seized
South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU)
More than 30 arrests of people suspected of transporting drugs by road into the region, following a SW ROCU-led ANPR operation.
Seizures included:
• £20k worth of heroin and £16k worth of cocaine from suspected County Line dealers based in the North West stopped in Devon & Cornwall
• £200k worth of cannabis, a knife, thousands of pounds in cash seized as a result of a vehicle stopped in Devon & Cornwall
• £10k heroin and crack cocaine from a vehicle which was travelling to Bournemouth from Merseyside
• £4k class A seized from a vehicle stopped in Gloucestershire
• £20k vehicle stolen from a burglary and a £35k vehicle seized