Tackling drugs is one of our residents’ top concerns

ALISON HERNANDEZ IS THE POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER FOR DEVON, CORNWALL AND THE ISLES OF SCILLY

Recently I had the privilege of accompanying uniformed officers, plain clothes police and police dog Skye – who specialises in detecting drugs – to conduct their fourth Pubs Against Drugs effort in Liskeard and Saltash.

Each time they visit the same pubs, where they are welcomed by the landlords and pub goers, unless of course they are carrying drugs.

Drug swipes of toilet surfaces are still coming back positive, but fewer drugs are being found these days – evidence that a continual push by this local policing team is starting to make a difference.

Not only does Skye do these types of operations, but her handler and her go into schools, too. There they carry out random searches of pupils with the support of the headteachers. What a great way to remind young people drugs are illegal and you may get caught.

In the past fortnight similar activity has taken place around the South West. Officers have executed warrants, intercepted packages and searched cars and suspects in the eighth round of Operation Scorpion, a region-wide project designed to make the peninsula a hostile environment for drug dealers.

Tackling drugs is one of our residents’ top concerns – it’s why it’s one of four priority areas in my police and crime plan. It is a cause of significant harm to health and is associated with other crime like shoplifting and burglary, which is why commissioners and chief constables set up Op Scorpion three years ago.

Across Devon and Cornwall last week drugs worth £50,000 were seized under Operation Scorpion, 15 people were arrested, five were charged, 17 adults and five children were safeguarded and – perhaps most worryingly – vapes containing illegal drugs were seized.

Since we launched Scorpion drugs worth more than £7 million have been taken off the streets. Local knowledge from officers who are familiar with their patches has been the life-blood of these intelligence-led operations, but so too has been information from the public who are sick of drug dealing and the associated crime blighting their communities.

If you, or anyone you know, is considering taking drugs they should know that new types of cheap, synthetic opioids are finding their way into our society, with two deaths from ‘nitazenes’ in North Devon last month and a further 10 people hospitalised. The drugs found in vapes prove that people need to be cautious before accepting a vape from just anyone.

Operation Scorpion Nine will be coming soon. My plea to you is that you pass information to police on 101 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.