POLICE Inspector Mike Darby is appealing for the public’s help to prevent a drug war breaking out in the town.

He has warned that drug groups dealing heroin and cocaine are moving – and bringing London-style violence with them.

He said: In the last three or four months, groups of people from outside of the Bridport area have identified there is a void left and have moved in from the Weymouth and Yeovil areas to try and take over the drugs supply in town.

“Most of these new drugs suppliers originate from south east London and are young men in their late teens and early 20s.”

He said police are keen to stop these new dealers becoming established with the consequent rivalry and tension that leads to violence.

He said: “The way they are trying to establish themselves in town is by identifying addresses of vulnerable people and drug addicts and using these addresses as bases to supply their drugs from.

“While they are trying to establish themselves here it is quite visible to the residents surrounding the addresses that unusual and suspicious activity is taking place, with lots of comings and goings, unusual vehicles.

“Not only are they carrying out significant criminal offences but it always brings in rivalry between people trying to establish themselves here, which in turn brings violence and the potential for tension between these gangs to escalate.

“We are determined to stop them, arrest, them and prevent them from establishing themselves in Bridport.

“And we need the public’s assistance and eyes and ears to help us achieve this.”

He said the force helicopter had already been called out after reports of men with knives and guns. Insp Darby said: “They are bringing London-style criminality with them here.

“We have seen a level of violence in big towns where similar things have happened and we want to prevent that coming here.

“Normal members of the public have nothing to fear from these people. They are not interested in people going about their daily lives. They just want to take advantage of the people who are already addicted to drugs and take over the supply to them.

“However it is the assistance of the residents in these areas that will help stop them moving into their communities and prevent this taking place on their doorsteps.”

Not only are the police concerned about gang wars developing between rival suppliers they don’t want the town to attract people from outside the area to come and buy drugs.

Insp Darby added: “I am concerned that with these dealers they will start attracting people to come here to buy their drugs.

“If the dealers start undercutting other suppliers from Weymouth, Honiton or Axminster then people will start travelling here to buy the drugs that’s what I really want to prevent.

“It is by us working fast and preventing them establishing themselves in the first place that will stop this happening.

“There is no indication that drug wars are taking place yet.

“To use the term drug wars would be misleading and too emotive.

“It is to stop drug war tensions developing here, which we have seen in larger towns in the south west, is why we are working so hard to stop it happening. That is why I am asking the public to keep their eyes open so the situation doesn’t escalate.”

He said police were aware of recent activity involving these dealers in Alexandra Road and surrounding streets in the Skilling area.

“If you do observe this please contact us at Bridport Police,” he said.

The Rev Philip Ringer, the vice chairman of Bridport Churches Together said: “Drugs are an insidious menace on our society and any information given to the police to prevent drug dealing taking place and the spread of drug use in Bridport is to be welcomed.

“I am sure the police will treat all information in confidence so please consider yours safety and the safety of others by reporting anything suspicious.”

Bridport Cllr Sir Philip Colfox, who is also a member of the Unitarian Free Church, said: “I support the policy of the Unitarian Penal Affairs Panel which is to call for the legalisation of the supply of drugs under controlled conditions but until that happens the only way to keep nasty criminals from exploiting vulnerable people with drug habits is to support the police in helping to keep them out of our patch.”