Crackdown on gang flooding drugs into Dorset from Merseyside

Dorset Police worked alongside Merseyside Police to target gangs on the roads and railways to disrupt drug dealing, arrest gang members, seize weapons and protect vulnerable people who were being exploited.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Lyne said: “This operation saw us reinforce our commitment to be relentless in making Dorset a hostile place for criminals and organised crime.

"County lines is a particularly unpleasant crime as it relies on the exploitation of vulnerable people – including vulnerable children. By working with colleagues and partners in this way, we don’t just tackle the gangs who bring misery to our communities, but we also safeguard the vulnerable people at risk of being exploited.

ACC Lyne gives a briefing ahead of the operation

“Working with our colleagues in Merseyside allows us to attack these gangs in both the locations where they originate and the places where they have decided to set up shop.

"This sends a clear message to county lines gangs that Dorset is not a safe place for them to carry out their business and we will do everything we can to disrupt their activities and keep our communities safe.”

Over the course of the two-day operation:

• 15 arrests were made
• 8 vehicles were seized
• A warrant was carried out which resulted in the seizure of approximately £1,000 in cash, a small quantity of suspected class A drugs, and an imitation firearm
• A street search of a suspect resulted in an arrest when seven wraps of suspected class A drugs were discovered. Further searches at the suspect’s property revealed more drug paraphernalia including scales
• Quantities of suspected drugs, cash and stolen property were seized
• Over 50 safe and well checks of vulnerable people were carried out

Police carry out a warrant in Dorset

'They bring misery to communities'

Detective Superintendent Andy O’Connor, of Merseyside Police,  said: “This was our first Medusa deployment into Dorset and has proved a successful first step into this area and shows our continued commitment to work with partners in other forces to crack down on county lines drug supply.

“The criminals who operate county lines do not respect borders, the communities they bring misery to, or the vulnerable people they exploit in the pursuit of illegal proceeds of crime. Project Medusa is dedicated to cutting these county lines dead and will work with other forces to trace those responsible and help those who may be exploited by these organised criminal gangs.

“Ultimately everyone should be warned that if you get involved in crime, you risk facing the consequences.

"But when we identify vulnerable, exploited people during our enquiries, we ensure they are treated with sensitivity and understanding, and are offered the appropriate support. Our primary target is those who seek to use them for their own selfish gain.”

• Read more: Bournemouth Police stop 'suspicious group' at Castlepoint

'One of my priorities'

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick, Association Of Police And Crime Commissioners joint lead for alcohol and substance misuse, said: “When I was elected as Police and Crime Commissioner, I said one of my priorities was to deal with fighting violent crime and high harm – and that of course includes drugs, particularly the county lines gangs who bring heroin, crack cocaine and other substances from the big cities into our small towns and villages.

“This is a horrific trade which serves up nothing but misery – to those who become addicted to the drugs themselves, to those young people coerced into working as mules and dealers by older criminals further up the ladder, and to vulnerable individuals who are ‘cuckooed’ and have their homes taken over.

“I have pledged to make Dorset the safest county and so I am delighted to witness the collaboration between Dorset and Merseyside Police in tackling county lines in Dorset – criminals should have no doubt that law enforcement agencies across the country are working together to drive you out of our communities, to take back your ill-gotten gains and deprive you of your liberty.”

• Read more: Beaches smell of cannabis, claims former council leader

What is county lines?

County lines refers to gangs selling drugs using dedicated mobile phone lines.

Not all county lines gangs operate across county borders; some operate between towns and cities within a county border and some even operate across cities.

These gangs tend to exploit vulnerable people – including children – which is what makes them so dangerous.

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