The Scorpion Returns

The fifth phase of Operation Scorpion, a regional drugs operation involving all five South West Police and Crime Commissioners, their respective police forces, the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), and key partners including British Transport Police, launched again last week.

This time round, the Operation will focus on cannabis cultivation by organised crime groups and associated crime, in particular modern slavery (criminal exploitation), human trafficking and organised immigration crime.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “Cannabis cultivation and modern slavery are inextricably linked. Organised Crime Groups (OCG’s)  involved in cannabis cultivation do not just bring with them the threat of violence and anti-social behaviour to a community, they bring with them the misery of modern slavery – forcing people work for them, often in inhumane conditions, keeping people prisoner by taking advantage of their vulnerable status.

These gangs also endanger the lives of people in the properties neighbouring the ‘cannabis farms’ by overloading the utility systems, causing serious and often fatal fires. Ultimately, they are more than prepared to take serious risks with the safety of others to make a profit and that’s why a national Crimestoppers campaign has been set up and why local communications activity in communities is currently taking place to urge the public and ‘professional enablers’ like builders’ merchants and landlords to ‘spot the signs’ and report suspected cannabis grows.

Dorset Police has already been successful in removing a number of cannabis farms from the county and I know that by working with our Op. Scorpion partners more and more OCG’s will be forced out of the South West. To report your concerns or to find out more about the signs of cannabis cultivation please visit  Crimestoppers.”