WILTSHIRE Police has combined its powers with four other forces to tackle cross-border drug suppliers and anti-social behaviour in a first-of-its-kind operation.

For the first time in the UK, five police and crime commissioners and their respective chief constables have agreed to join together to target drug-related crime by setting aside regional boundaries.

Operation Scorpion began on March 7 and harnessed these collective powers to disrupt drug crime in the south west by dismantling drugs supply networks and arresting those who profit from them.

Wiltshire PCC Philip Wilkinson stressed that drug crime isn’t just a problem for urban police forces. Since taking office, he has listened to concerns and visited several communities where drug crime, and its related anti-social behaviour, harms people living in the area.

Mr Wilkinson said: “I have heard, loud and clear, how Wiltshire’s residents are sick to the death of the drug dealers operating in our communities – destroying their daily lives and making it impossible, on occasion, for ordinary lives to continue. The knock-on effects of drug dealers in communities can make life unbearable.

“We are going after those dealers embedded in our communities and we are going to make their lives so uncomfortable they no longer see Wiltshire as a soft option for their criminality.

“The message is really simple: we are going to make the south west a hostile environment for all drug dealers.

“This renewed focus and targeting is a direct result of the new commitment from the south west’s PCCs to tackle drug-related crime and associated anti-social behaviour in their communities.

“Not only are we Making Wiltshire Safer by working closely with the police forces from our surrounding counties but we are also ensuring the south west is safer too.”

Swindon Advertiser: Five PCCs have teamed up to tackle drug suppliersFive PCCs have teamed up to tackle drug suppliers

Drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour were major concerns for people in Wiltshire who took part in the Use Your Voice consultation, which informed the latest police and crime plan.

Making Wiltshire Safer launched last week, with Priority 2 as ‘Reduce violence and serious harm’ and Priority 3 as ‘Tackle crimes that matter to local communities’. They underline the strategic focus which the force will give to continuing to disrupt drug supplies, dealing with criminals and ridding the county’s streets of drugs.

Officers carried out targeted roads policing activity, executed warrants based upon community intelligence, and seized drugs, weapons and cash made from drug-related activity. Criminals were arrested, charged and remanded to prison and addiction services, and rehabilitation was offered to addicts.

Plus, police raised awareness of how to spot young people being exploited by criminal gangs and identify those vulnerable people who may be victims of cuckooing by gangs.

Mr Wilkinson added: "Key to the success of this work, and the targeting of ongoing police operations, is the intelligence gathered and given to us by our communities. Wiltshire Police need to know where this criminality is happening and they will take action."

All five PCCs spoke with Crime and Policing Minister Kit Malthouse MP in London last week. Together, they unveiled their collaboration and increased focus on making the south west a hostile place for drugs and criminal gangs, and spoke about how it contributed to the Home Office's Beating Crime Plan.

Mr Malthouse said: “Confronting drugs is central to fighting crime, violence and neighbourhood degradation. So I commend the work of Wiltshire, Devon & Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Avon & Somerset police forces to rid this scourge from our streets.

"Op Scorpion is a fine example of what can be achieved when we treat drug- related crime as an insidious enterprise, and the villainous bosses need to know they will soon be behind bars, with plenty of time to ponder on their wickedness.

“Through our drugs strategy, we are tackling both the supply and demand for narcotics by supporting the police in tracking down these ruthless drug gangs, whilst helping those addicted to drugs with treatment and recovery services.

“The success of Operation Scorpion in the south west is proof that collaboration is key in tackling the supply of narcotics and dismantling the gangs behind it. I want to thank the officers working tirelessly to drive down drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour in their areas.”