This week officers and staff across Wiltshire Police will be tackling drug dealing as part of the latest phase of a regional crackdown.

Earlier this year the five police forces across the South West combined their operational powers and launched Operation Scorpion.

This new initiative was designed to tackle drug supply and criminal activity, and during the first week of activity back in March, saw 20 people were arrested in Wiltshire. 

Drugs, cash and weapons were also seized.

The first phase of Operation Scorpion resulted in 55 warrants carried out and 194 arrests made.

Police seized at least £404,000 worth of drugs and £131,000 in cash, disrupting 400 drug line disruptions, they claim.

320 vulnerability/welfare checks were carried out and people safeguarded while a vast array of weapons were seized including tasers, knives and machetes.

Throughout this week, officers and staff from various teams and departments will continue this work, focusing on engaging with our communities to gather intelligence on local drug dealers.

This wider community engagement work aims to both educate local people about spotting the signs of drug dealing and listening to people’s concerns so police can gather information and build intelligence.

Assistant Chief Constable Deb Smith said: "These illegal enterprises bring with them violence, intimidation, exploitation and anti-social behaviour, and I hope that operations like the one we are running this week, shows the public that it will not be tolerated.

"Although this is the sort of work which is ongoing 52 weeks a year, over the next seven days we will be combining resources with other agencies and organisations, and carrying out focused and targeted work to make a real difference."

Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson said: "Drug dealing is a concern that is raised with me by Wiltshire's residents time and time again – they destroy their daily lives and make it impossible, on occasion, for ordinary lives to continue. The knock-on effects of drug dealers in communities can make life unbearable.

"Operation Scorpion goes 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."

Any people with information regarding drug-related issues are urged to call police on 101.

You can also ring CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or report it to police online.