Alison Hernandez: Week-long drug operation sees 112 arrests as Operation Scorpion hits South West

The fight against drugs is gaining momentum in Devon and Cornwall, and across the South West, through the persistent combined efforts of Police and Crime Commissioners and police forces in unity with vital partners. 

The message is clear; drugs will not be tolerated in our region and issues can only be tackled by disrupting organised criminal groups, reducing supply and demand, delivering effective treatment, and protecting young people from exploitation. 

During another week of coordinated activity called Operation Scorpion to target illegal drugs and child criminal exploitation, more than 100 arrests were made across the South West. 

Suspected drug dealers were apprehended, drugs and weapons were seized, along with cash, and vulnerable people, including children, were safeguarded. 

Across Devon & Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Avon & Somerset, and Wiltshire, the following was achieved: 

• 112 people were arrested 

• £67,329 cash was seized 

• 52kg of cannabis was confiscated, along with 868 cannabis plants 

• Three guns were recovered, plus five imitation firearms 

• 19 other weapons seized, such as knives, hammers and Tasers 

• 48 people were safeguarded, including five children 

During the week of action, Devon & Cornwall Police achieved: 

• 27 arrests 

• 21 people safeguarded, including one child 

• £17,465 cash seized 

• 308 cannabis plants confiscated 

• Two guns seized, plus one imitation firearm 

• Six other weapons seized 

These encouraging successes were secured by all five police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners working together with British Transport Police and South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SW ROCU) to eradicate drugs. 

A key focus of Operation Scorpion was child criminal exploitation which included an awareness campaign on TikTok and Snapchat to specifically target young people and educate them about how to spot the signs and where to get help and support. 

These organised weeks of activity are part of continuing efforts to remove the scourge of drugs from our communities and help those who want to turn their lives around. 

Examples of great initiatives to address not just drug but also alcohol misuse were shared last week at a seminar hosted in Plymouth for our councillor advocates. 

For those of you who are not familiar with the scheme, it aims to improve communication between local councillors, the police and my office which organised four seminars a year. 

The theme of the latest was drugs and alcohol which is one of the top priorities in my Police and Crime Plan in terms of disputing drug dealing, reducing antisocial behaviour (ASB), and providing a holistic and trauma responsive approach to tackle the root causes. 

I am a big advocate of the model and ethos provided by Harbour Housing in St Austell. I have visited its facilities and spoken to service users to see how their lives have been transformed because of the innovative ways the charity tackles homelessness, ASB, and drugs, alcohol, mental health issues in the local community.   

 Presentations given during the seminar included from: 

• The Naloxone Advocates Plymouth team, made up of passionate volunteers who care deeply about one thing - reducing drug-related deaths in the city 

• Cornwall Safe and Well Hubs which offers significant wraparound support for people with complex needs, including street-attached individuals and those in recovery from addiction 

• Torbay Recovery Initiatives who carried out a pilot study in Torquay with eight individuals who were given effective alternative drug treatment Buprenorphine to help get them off drugs and reduce reoffending and ASB. 

• Devon & Cornwall Police’s drug and alcohol harm reduction team 

• Argyle Community Trust whose Intervention and Youth Support Programme to support young people at risk of ASB, substance misuse and violence is funded by my office 

• Vision Zero South West partnership which has launched its Lift Legend scheme again this month, offering designated drivers free soft drinks at over 260 pubs, clubs and restaurants across Devon and Cornwall to prevent incidents of drink-driving  

The public play a huge part in helping reiterate the message that the South West is no place for drugs. If you suspect or know of drug activity, please let the police know, or report it anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Every report is valuable.