An ongoing commitment by Devon & Cornwall Police and other South West forces to collectively disrupt drug activity in the region has successfully resulted in the seizure of drugs worth more than £3million, over 1,580 arrests and hundreds of vulnerable people being safeguarded over the last four and a half years.
Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables from the five South West forces – Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire – pledged in October 2021 to harness the collective power of regional policing to make it a hostile environment for those who deal drugs and engage in antisocial drug taking activity.
Operation Scorpion was launched the following year with the first phase of week long co-ordinated activity taking place in March 2022. Since then, iterations have taken place every four months across all force areas at a regional and local level, with each one targeting a different drugs supply issue. The overarching theme is creating a “Ring of Steel” around the South West to prevent drugs from entering the region.
Multiple partners, including Crimestoppers, British Transport Police, the Regional Organised Crime Unit and Ministry of Defence Police have joined operations. Across the region, forces combined intelligence from communities, numberplate recognition technology and stop and search tactics as part of this intensification.
Last month the 15th Operation Scorpion – led by Devon & Cornwall Police – took place from June 22 to 28. The landmark iteration once again achieved great results, further adding to the successful outcomes previously achieved.
Across all the regions, the overall figures for the past 15 Operation Scorpions are:
- Arrests – over 1,580
- Warrants – over 142
- Disruptions – over 2,210
- Welfare – over 1,380 people safeguarded
- Seized Drugs – over 160kg of seized drugs valued over £3m
- Cash Seized – over £1.1m
- Seized weapons – over 200
Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “These figures are likely to be a significant underestimate of the actual numbers achieved over the five years since Operation Scorpion began.
“Alongside the firm action to disrupt organised criminal groups, we also need to tackle the root causes of drug use. That’s why I am such an advocate of organisations that work to deliver effective treatment for those battling drug addiction and protect young people from exploitation.
“I would like to thank members of the public who continue to report drug crime either via the police or anonymously via Crimestoppers. I would encourage anyone who is struggling with drug abuse, or knows someone who is, to reach out for support.”
Regional Assistant Chief Constable Andy Hill said: “Seeing these figures make me hugely proud of the work of our officers and staff across the South West Organised Crime Unit and forces.
“ I’d also like to thank members of the public whose intelligence about where drug related exploitation is occurring has so often been the basis for our policing operations.
“This operation shows our region’s determination to target and disrupt the organised crime groups who are looking to make huge profits supplying drugs across the south west, while exploiting our young people and causing real harm in our communities.
“As well as the drugs and weapons taken off our streets, we’ve seen so much brilliant work to educate and protect young people and targeted appeals for community intelligence to help drive future policing operations.”
In the past, Operation Scorpion often ran the same week as County Lines intensification week for operational and resource purposes. Further weeks of intensification will continue this year and beyond.
Officers and staff of all the police forces and agencies involved in Operation Scorpion work tirelessly to investigate drug related crime, bring criminals to justice and safeguard vulnerable people exploited and harmed by these crimes all year round and on a daily basis.
Drug crime can be reported via the police by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.