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FULL FORCE OF THE LAW: John Montague, head of the Crown Court Unit of the of the CPS

IF you are dealing in drugs in Dorset, the chances are you are going to get caught.

And if you do get caught you are more than likely going to be convicted.

This is the message from Dorset Police and the Crown Prosecution Service after another drug dealer starts a 14-year jail sentence for cocaine supply.

Mohamed Pour and co-defendants Cheryl Lawes, Fathi Dridi and Haider Mirzayari were convicted last week of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Pour was jailed for 14 years and the others will be sentenced later this month.

Supt Stuart Katon said: "The conviction of Pour and his co-defendants is the latest in a line of successful prosecutions of drug dealers. We will continue to take positive robust action on behalf of the public against any individual dealing in drugs.

"This is all part of Operation Dismantle, a Dorset-wide initiative led by Bournemouth and Poole Police, aimed at tackling drug supply and reducing drug-related crime."

Between January and December 2007 there were 638 prosecutions for drugs offences in Dorset.

Of these, 616 were successful - leading to an impressive 96.4 per cent conviction rate.

John Montague, head of the crown court unit at Dorset Crown Prosecution Service, said the high conviction rate illustrates the hard work carried out by the police and CPS to bring people to justice.

He told the Daily Echo that lawyers are getting involved in cases earlier by working with the police when operations are under way and at the pre-charge stage.

They also try to ensure the same lawyer follows the case through to the end.

"We are very much working in partnership with the police and are getting on the front foot to make sure we are able to deal with the issues before they become issues."

Mr Montague added: "Drugs are massive as far as the impact they have on other crimes.

"People will fund heroin addictions by committing thefts, shoplifting - they are so desperate for drugs they will do almost anything to get them.

"The message we want to send out is that people will be prosecuted as hard as possible and they will be punished as rigorously as possible. We will also apply to seize their assets."

He called on the public to contact the police with any information they may have about people dealing in drugs.

"We cannot do this without the assistance of the public. If you know something is going on, call in and have the confidence in the criminal justice system," he said.

4:00pm Tuesday 12th February 2008

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