The incredible hard work being carried out by police officers not just from Devon and Cornwall but also British Transport Police (BTP) to disrupt drug crime is something I recently got to witness first hand.
I was invited to accompany officers during targeted early morning action of a drugs raid at a property in Devonport and then onto Plymouth Railway Station at part of Operation Scorpion which is aimed at tackling drug supply chains and protecting the communities it damages.
Their efforts resulted in two arrests being made at the station. A 21-year-old male was remanded and found to be in possession of knife following a stop search by BTP officers. He had only recently been released from prison.
Another 21-year-old male was found in possession of ketamine and dealt with through a Community Resolution Order. I was deeply saddened to see what appeared to be the visible signs of drug use on this young man. He looked under the influence of drugs and was unable to communicate properly.
I spent some time talking with passengers explaining what was going on and why so many police were present as is caused concerns about their own safety.
It was the 15th Operation Scorpion that has been carried out and the impressive results it achieves is down to it being a cross-border collaborative effort involving police forces from Devon and Cornwall, Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, supported by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and British Transport Police.
The focus of the week, which ran from June 22 to 28, was disrupting the supply and use of drugs in pubs, clubs and other parts of the night time economy through coordinated enforcement and intelligence-led activity. Over the course of a week, the South West results included:
- 103 arrests
- 16 adults and children safeguarded
- Over 5kg of Class A drugs seized
- 24kg of cannabis seized
- £81,747 cash seized
- 8 weapons and 4 firearms seized
- Along with 5kg Class A drugs, spice, ketamine, MDMA and amphetamine were also seized
It also marks a significant milestone which highlights all that has been achieved so far during all 15 Operation Scorpion iterations. Cumulative figures from across the five South West forces throughout that time will be released by my office later this week.
Aside from the stats, Operation Scorpion sends out a clear message that there is no place for drugs in our communities and criminals will be caught and dealt with accordingly.
Organised crime gangs shamelessly exploit children and vulnerable people so another vital element of Operation Scorpion is identifying and safeguarding those individuals. It is also imperative that we tackle the root causes of drug use.
That’s why it’s one of the four priority areas in my police and crime plan. I am a huge advocate of organisations that work to deliver effective treatment for those battling drug addiction and protect young people from exploitation.
My office funds just under £500,000 to help tackle issues around drugs and alcohol, including £15,500 to Firestone Plymouth to help provide supported accommodation for women seeking to maintain abstinence-based recovery.
The hard work doesn’t stop here. We will continue to take a strong and robust stance against drugs and exploitation and make the peninsula a hostile environment for drug dealers.
I would like to thank members of the public who continue to report drug crime either via the police by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
I would encourage anyone who is struggling with drug abuse, or knows someone who is, to reach out for support.