A HUGE police presence descended on Weymouth Train Station as a British Transport Police (BTP) ramped up an enhanced operation targeting County Lines activity across the south west region.
More than 20 police officers - some of which were plain-clothed - were out of in force for the BTP-led deployment, which has seen support from figureheads across the region including the area's MPs, as well as Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) David Sidwick.
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The week-long enhanced operation is just one example of BTP’s work across the UK's rail network day in, day out to intercept organised criminals using the railway to move drugs between locations.
South Dorset MP Richard Drax said: "Drugs are an appalling scourge on Dorset.
"The couriers are usually children who are being used by these gangs.
"I hope this initiative will tackle those at the top of this illegal activity."
The last batch of enhanced operations took place in the south west from 15–19 March 2021 and resulted in 34 arrests, 27 drugs seizures, two disrupted lines, £8,900 of cash seized and eight weapons removed from the railway.
West Dorset MP Chris Loder said: "I used to work for the railway and I felt this activity wasn't being combated enough.
"The long-term aim of this operation is to alleviate pressure from police, especially in Weymouth and Dorchester – areas which have seen a rise in drug dealing activity.
"Dorset needs to be put as a priority to tackle this criminal activity as more people visit here due to staycations.
"We're not tolerating drug dealing in Dorset."
READ MORE: Dorset Police involved in Operation Enhance to disrupt county lines supply
One officer at Weymouth Train Station said it was an opportunity to speak to festivalgoers using the railway to attend Reading Festival. Festivals across the country are known to be hotspots for people to take drugs.
To date, the County Lines Taskforce has made 1,439 arrests, 772 drugs seizures, £505,000 in cash seized, 283 weapons removed from the rail network, 77 referrals to the National Referral Mechanism for Safeguarding, and 15 Modern Day Slavery charges.
Leading the County Lines operation, detective superintendent Gareth Williams said: "Weymouth is of interest to us as it is an area many people are coming to.
"We're driven by intelligence which includes stopping suspects, making arrests and ceasing phones so we can find out where they've come from.
"My ambition for this operation is safeguard children being used to be given help and to make sure the criminals responsible are not sent down for drug dealing, but to imprisoned for drug trafficking, which holds a great tariff.
"We also want to make this type of operation non-viably financial, which is the main driver, said Mr Williams."
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick said: "We want to stop these toxic chemicals coming into Dorset.
"I want these people to be caught and put in prison for modern slavery crimes so we can stop this poison from coming into the county.
"We want to drive drugs out of Dorset."
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