Police are committed to tackling ‘county lines’ drug networking in Bridport, and are urging the community to support them.

It comes after a drug dealer found in possession of thousands of pounds worth of class A drugs was jailed for seven years and three months.

Andre Harold Willis, aged 25 and of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court after admitting four charges of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply, as well as converting criminal property, failing to surrender to bail and assaulting a police constable in the execution of their duty.

On Monday, August 14, an officer on duty in Bridport saw Willis near Bridport Medical Centre with a small black rucksack on his back.

The officer attempted to stop him, but he turned and ran in the opposite direction. Willis was located a short time later at an address in Princess Road.

He was arrested as he attempted to leave the property, pushing an officer over as he did so. Willis was found to be in possession of a green-handled folding knife and two mobile phones.

In his rucksack were a number of wraps of crack cocaine and heroin with an estimated street value of £4,200.

In August, The News reported that drug crime in Bridport was on the rise but the proportion of people charged with offences averaged at just 24 per cent.

Inspector Neil Wood, of Bridport police, said: “Over the last three years we have witnessed in Bridport what is known as ‘county lines’, where drug dealers from larger cities try and establish themselves in smaller towns to increase drug markets.

“We have been working proactively to tackle this issue and have carried out a number of successful covert operations that have resulted in significant prison sentences given to those involved in the supply of drugs.

“The overall number of offences in Bridport is still relatively low compared to many areas.

“We are committed toward tackling drug supply and misuse offences and I would ask the community to support our efforts in tackling this crime in the town by reporting any suspicious activity, such as a high number of short-term visitors to an address or small gatherings of people in secluded areas.

“The county lines networks will target vulnerable members of the community and effectively take over an address for a short period of time in order to distribute drugs from that location and I would urge anyone who believes this may be taking place to contact police.”

Bridport councillor Ros Kayes said Bridport has a ‘hidden’ drug problem.

“A lot of people don’t know it is there, but it is there,” she said. “Police are working really hard but it’s like they block one channel and another opens.”