DORSET'S Police and Crime Commissioner is calling on the public to help police in their fight against drug crime.
A new campaign has been launched with adverts on buses to draw attention to the issue of illegal drug dealing.
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick is encouraging residents to come forward with their information as it could provide the missing piece of the puzzle for police.
Mr Sidwick said: "I am urging the people of Dorset to help us in our fight to drive these criminals out of our county by continuing to report the unusual or suspicious activity they see where they live and work.
"We need your eyes, ears, and expert knowledge. I want to be clear: what you see could be a bigger deal than you think."
Adverts urging people to 'Tell us where the 'deal' is, and we will deal with it' can be seen on vehicles across Dorset's MoreBus networks from February 19.
They aim to encourage residents to report their intelligence, either to the police directly or anonymously, through the independent charity Crimestoppers.
Mr Sidwick said: "This campaign is going out in a lot of different ways.
"It's going out on social media, it's going out on leaflets, but MoreBus is one of the biggest bus companies.
"When you put something on the back of a bus, people do notice it."
For more than two years, Dorset has been at the forefront of a county-lines busting initiative, Operation Scorpion.
In the previous phase of the regional crackdown in October 2023, Dorset officers made 26 drug-related arrests and seized more than £93,000 worth of illegal drugs, along with 17 mobile phones, during county-wide operations.
The key to tackling the scourge of county lines and drug supply is the information provided by the public. This intelligence equips Dorset Police with the information required to disrupt county lines and safeguard vulnerable people.
Mr Sidwick added: "I know how damaging the effects of drugs can be for a community. Shoplifting, anti-social behaviour, and vehicle crime are among just some of the offences often linked to drugs, and I want it to stop. But the police need your help to go further than ever; they can't do this alone."
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