Police checked a number of taxis for drugs in Bristol city centre this afternoon (July 6). Officers searched through several cabs and deployed dogs to check for substances as part of a major police operation happening across the South West.
The five police forces in our region - Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire - are all taking part in Operation Scorpion to crack down on drugs. Today's taxi searches marked the second phase of the operation and will focus on the impact of drugs within local communities.
Avon and Somerset's police and crime commissioner Mark Shelford said: “This week of action aims to demonstrate our commitment to making the South West a safe place – a hostile environment for illegal drug use and exploitation."
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He added: "It’s a week of enforcement, but more importantly, it’s a week of education, awareness and prevention. We seek to help those who may be vulnerable to exploitation and encourage those who live in our neighbourhoods to report any concerns they have around drug activity so that we can work to prevent this from causing any harm to our communities.”
Police plan to use several methods to stop drug-dealing including seizing illegal drugs and drug-related weapons, and carrying out high visibility patrols to disrupt activity in areas of drug misuse. The first phase of the operation took place in March 2022 and resulted in 194 arrests in connection with drugs related offences, and at least £400k of suspected drugs seized.
Superintendent Steve Kendall, who leads the operation, said: “In this phase of Op Scorpion, we’ll be reassuring our communities through high profile neighbourhood policing. Patrols will be targeted to disrupt street-level drug crime and we will be carrying out enforcement activities across the week, focusing on those who are profiteering from the damage and harm that drugs bring to our communities, including drug-related violence, theft and criminal damage.
“Alongside enforcement work we’ll be safeguarding vulnerable people who find themselves caught up in drug use and/or supply, through no fault of their own, working with a number of different partner agencies to help them to access treatment and support. We’ll also be continuing our ongoing educational and preventative work to ensure that young people are aware of the signs of grooming and exploitation and how to get help if they need it.”
“We’ll be asking the public to play their part in looking out for and reporting signs of drug activity in our neighbourhoods. We need their help to support our partnership approach in tackling illegal drug supply within our communities. Together we can reinforce the message that Avon and Somerset is no place for drugs.”
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