Latest news with #OperationScorpion
BBC News
7 days ago
- BBC News
Police arrest 37 in major county lines crackdown
Thirty-seven people have been arrested across the West of England in a major operation targeting drug supply networks. Police from Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire seized £35,700 in cash, as well as drugs including heroin, cannabis and cocaine. Officers were carrying out a regional week of action from 23 to 29 June as part of Operation police and crime commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, said: "Criminals rely on gaps in awareness and accountability, and we are working to close those gaps across the region." The three police forces also teamed up with Devon and Cornwall Police and Dorset Police, and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).In total across the five regions, police arrested 102 people and seized 66kg of cocaine, 14kg of cannabis and £119,000 in vehicles were also seized, including six officers shut down 29 suspected county lines – mobile phone lines used to take orders of this latest stage of Operation Scorpion, policing teams targeted those who exploit children and vulnerable people to supply and store Con Andy Hill of SWROCU said it was a "stark reality" that the average age of someone controlling a drugs line is 21, and the average age of a drug runner is just 15 to 17. In Wiltshire, 25 people were arrested including eight drug line holders, who were charged and remanded in custody. Officers disrupted and removed 14 drug lines from operation, in addition to seizing 15 offensive weapons including a firearm, a stun gun disguised as a torch, knives and force also seized 1.3kg of cannabis found in carrier bags and 107 MDMA Ch Insp Charlotte Tucker, of Wiltshire Police, said: "We will continue to work together to tackle these issues and make the South West a hostile environment for these suspected criminals to operate in." Avon and Somerset Police engaged with industries that may be unknowingly helping drug supply spoke to staff at hotels, private hire companies and postal services to raise awareness of the signs of exploitation and encourage staff to report any suspicions or also spoke to around 1,000 taxi Police, meanwhile, visited homes where concerns had been raised about potential cuckooing – where a drug dealer takes over a vulnerable person's address and uses it as a base to commit people were safeguarded as a result, and officers worked with partner agencies to put measures in place to ensure a long-term plan for their support. 'United approach' The force's police and crime commissioner, Chris Nelson, said: "Combining the resources of all of the region's forces demonstrates a united approach to policing in an attempt to reduce the serious harm and violence caused by drugs. "By recognising the signs and behaviour to look out for, we can all play our part in smashing these gangs and send a clear message that this region will not tolerate this harmful criminal activity."
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Devon and Cornwall county lines crackdown leads to 41 arrests
More than 40 arrests have been made across Devon and Cornwall in a police county lines Scorpion targets gangs who use young people to traffic drugs into the region from major cities, including Manchester and seven-day operation is run by five police forces, including Devon and Cornwall, Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, British Transport Police and the South West Regional Organised Crime Hernandez, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, said the crackdown was about taking "street level dealers out of action". Cash and drugs seized Drugs including crack, cocaine, heroin and cannabis were seized along with nearly £60,000 in cash, said police. A number of phones, suspected to have been used to coordinate county lines drug deals, were also seized and 41 arrests were Hernandez said the operations were important in tackling organised crimes gangs who see the south west as a soft touch."We have been doing this for a couple of years now and have got a bit of a battle rhythm going on," Ms Hernandez added."One of the challenges that we face is that we have got a lot of people who are also being exploited, and we need to go and intervene in their lives as well. " As well as carrying out raids across Devon and Cornwall, police also took sniffer dog patrols to Torquay train station to try and intercept suspected county lines traffickers as they Scorpion 12 also involved officers going into neighbourhoods to visit people believed to be vulnerable to being exploited by the drugs gangs.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
PCC supports calls to reclassify cannabis
A Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) says he "fully supports" calls to reclassify cannabis as a Class A drug. Police forces in the west and south west of England have been cracking down on people using recreational drugs, with Dorset PCC David Sidwick this week reiterating calls for cannabis to be upgraded. Wiltshire PCC Philip Wilkinson says he has seen "first-hand" how cannabis cultivation and use are "deeply intertwined with a spectrum of criminal activities" in his county. The Home Office said it has "no intention of reclassifying cannabis from a Class B substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act". More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire "From anti-social behaviour and retail theft to more serious offences like modern slavery and human trafficking, cannabis often serves as a gateway drug and funding source for organised crime groups," said Mr Wilkinson. Recent operations targeting organised crime groups in Wiltshire resulted in more than 100kg (220lbs) of cannabis being seized. These took place as part of Operation Scorpion, a joint initiative by Avon & Somerset, Dorset, Devon & Cornwall, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire forces, aimed at disrupting drugs networks around the west and south west of England. Mr Wilkinson added: "The idea that cannabis is a harmless drug is a misconception. Its cultivation and distribution are often controlled by organised crime networks that exploit vulnerable individuals and perpetuate violence. "County lines operations are the clearest example of how drug-related crime has extended its tentacles into our rural towns and villages. The notion that drug-related crime is only an urban issue is outdated and dangerously naïve." He said a national drug policy "that recognises cannabis as the deeply harmful drug it is, and supports prevention, education, and treatment alongside policing" would "send a clear message about the seriousness of its impact on our communities". Mr Wilkinson asked members of the public to continue reporting "any crimes and intelligence from their communities" so action can be taken. A Home Office spokesperson said: "We will continue to work with partners across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use, ensure more people receive timely treatment and support, and make our streets and communities safer. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Experts criticise calls to re-classify cannabis Police crackdown on drug use in night-time economy Mayor backs report's call for cannabis law reform Wiltshire Police
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Wiltshire PCC supports calls to reclassify cannabis as Class A
A Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) says he "fully supports" calls to reclassify cannabis as a Class A forces in the west and south west of England have been cracking down on people using recreational drugs, with Dorset PCC David Sidwick this week reiterating calls for cannabis to be PCC Philip Wilkinson says he has seen "first-hand" how cannabis cultivation and use are "deeply intertwined with a spectrum of criminal activities" in his Home Office said it has "no intention of reclassifying cannabis from a Class B substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act". "From anti-social behaviour and retail theft to more serious offences like modern slavery and human trafficking, cannabis often serves as a gateway drug and funding source for organised crime groups," said Mr operations targeting organised crime groups in Wiltshire resulted in more than 100kg (220lbs) of cannabis being took place as part of Operation Scorpion, a joint initiative by Avon & Somerset, Dorset, Devon & Cornwall, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire forces, aimed at disrupting drugs networks around the west and south west of England. Mr Wilkinson added: "The idea that cannabis is a harmless drug is a misconception. Its cultivation and distribution are often controlled by organised crime networks that exploit vulnerable individuals and perpetuate violence."County lines operations are the clearest example of how drug-related crime has extended its tentacles into our rural towns and villages. The notion that drug-related crime is only an urban issue is outdated and dangerously naïve."He said a national drug policy "that recognises cannabis as the deeply harmful drug it is, and supports prevention, education, and treatment alongside policing" would "send a clear message about the seriousness of its impact on our communities".Mr Wilkinson asked members of the public to continue reporting "any crimes and intelligence from their communities" so action can be taken. A Home Office spokesperson said: "We will continue to work with partners across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use, ensure more people receive timely treatment and support, and make our streets and communities safer.
BBC News
10-04-2025
- BBC News
Police chief asks for public's help to tackle child grooming
A police chief constable has warned that wherever children live, they are equally at risk of being groomed for sexual or criminal Constable Catherine Roper, of Wiltshire Police, has asked the public to trust officers and come forward with any information – in recognition that intelligence sharing is key to finding child said the force hoped to increase police visibility in rural and urban areas in a bid to build stronger relationships, boost information-sharing and increase NSPCC says police forces recorded more than 7,000 online grooming crimes in total in 2023/24 – up by 89% since 2017/18. Community intelligence Ms Roper, who is also the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for children and young people, said: "We need to accept that tragically children and young people are being groomed across all areas, urban and rural."We need the public to come forward and tell us when they are concerned."She added that, as a direct result of community intelligence gathered during Operation Scorpion – a regional drugs operation – Wiltshire Police were able to identify vulnerable children, young people and adults and put in place safeguarding measures."Urban or rural, I ask our communities to trust us with the information and we will focus on keeping people safe," she said. Ms Roper recently commissioned a review into allegations of child exploitation and child grooming made to Wiltshire Police over the past 10 years, to improve the force's responses. Wiltshire Police has identified the following indicators that a young person may be being groomed:Are they being secretive about how they are spending their time?Do they have an older boyfriend or girlfriend?Do they have money or new things like clothes and mobile phones that they cannot or will not explain?Are they drinking or taking drugs?Are they spending more or less time than usual online or on their devices?Do they seem upset or withdrawn?Are they using sexual language you would not expect them to know?Are they spending more time away from home or going missing for periods of time?
