A joined up approach is being made to tackle Dorset’s drug problems with arrests being made.

Dorset Police have been working with Merseyside Police to target county lines gangs from the Merseyside area dealing drugs in Dorset.

The operation – part of Merseyside’s Project Medusa – saw gangs targeted on the road and rail networks with Dorset officers working alongside colleagues from Merseyside to disrupt drug dealing, arrest gang members, seize weapons and protect vulnerable people who were being exploited.

Over the course of the two-day operation 15 arrests were made; eight 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; and 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 and over 50 safe and well checks of vulnerable people were carried out.

ACC 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.

“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.”

Detective Superintendent Andy O’Connor 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.”

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner and APPC joint lead for Alcohol and Substance Misuse, David Sidwick 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.”