Dorset is a safer place thanks to Operation Scorpion

Communities across Dorset are safer today thanks to the success of the latest phase of Operation Scorpion, the south west’s regional initiative targeting illegal drugs, organised crime and the exploitation of vulnerable people.

Operation Scorpion brings together the five south west police forces – Dorset, Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire - and their respective PCCs, alongside British Transport Police and South West Regional Organised Crime Unit. By working together through close collaboration, robust enforcement and effective safeguarding, partners are sending a clear and consistent message to organised crime groups that the south west is a hostile environment for those who profit from illegal drugs and the exploitation of others.

During last week’s co-ordinated activity – the 14th iteration of Operation Scorpion – officers and staff across the region carried out warrants, targeted vehicle stops and intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling drug supply networks and disrupting criminal activity. Across the south west, 92 people were arrested – with more than half of those arrests made in Dorset. More than £446,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized and nearly £55,000 in criminal cash was taken off the streets. Importantly, 59 vulnerable people were also identified and safeguarded from harm.

In Dorset, the results were particularly striking. Officers made a total of 47 arrests during this phase of the operation – more than double the number recorded in the previous round. This significant increase underlines our determination to confront drug-related crime head-on and disrupt the criminal networks responsible.

Alongside these arrests, officers safeguarded 17 people believed to be at risk of exploitation and visited at least 15 addresses suspected of being “cuckooed”, which is where criminals seek to take control of vulnerable people’s homes. Eighteen warrants were executed with support from South West Regional Organised Crime Unit. Officers seized at least £30,000 worth of cocaine, as well as quantities of heroin and cannabis, and £13,000 in cash. Eleven weapons – including bladed items, a PAVA spray and a crossbow – were also taken off our streets.

These results demonstrate the impact of strong partnership working and the commitment of officers and staff to robustly tackle the harm caused by illegal drugs. Crucially, the operation is about far more than enforcement alone. It is about smashing the gangs who profit from drug dealing and protecting vulnerable people from exploitation through county lines activity. As part of this operation, officers also focused on prevention and awareness. Engagement work took place with schools, taxi drivers and members of the public to highlight the warning signs of child criminal exploitation. Police Cadets supported the Hotel Watch initiative, helping hotel staff identify indicators of exploitation and criminal activity so that concerns can be reported quickly and vulnerable people protected.

Once again, Operation Scorpion has demonstrated the success that can be achieved and I want to thank everyone involved in this targeted action – officers, staff and partners across the region – for their continued efforts in making our communities even safer.

Tackling drug-related crime is not something policing can do alone though - communities play a vital role. If you suspect drug-related activity in your area, please report it to Dorset Police by calling 101 or by reporting online. If someone is in immediate danger, always call 999. Together, we can continue to disrupt criminal networks, protect vulnerable people and ensure Dorset remains no place for illegal drugs.

David Sidwick

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner