A van displaying a ‘say no to drugs’ campaign is to go on a roadshow across Dorset.

Crimestoppers is working with police forces across the south west to tackle criminal drug gangs operating across the region.

The van will seek to highlight the harm and exploitation of drug networks and will encourage local people to report drug-related concerns anonymously in order to make Dorset ‘no place for drugs’.

The charity says that the two-week campaign will ‘remind people that regardless of whether you use drugs recreationally from time to time, buying illegal drugs fuels the exploitation of vulnerable people’.

It comes as Dorset Police announced they had made 22 arrests during September as part of their efforts to eliminate drug crime across the county.

The force also carried out 41 drug line disruptions, 35 safe and well checks, safeguarded 11 people and delivered two drug offence convictions.

The work, part of Operation Viper, sees dedicated teams using intelligence and enforcement to disrupt county lines and make the region a ‘hostile environment’ for drugs.

Dorset Police said they would be targeting a winter crackdown on recreational drug users with town centres across the region being ‘the focus of activity’.

Mick Duthie, Director of Operations at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “Regardless of age, gender or ethnicity, anyone can get recruited and caught up in harmful drug crime. 

“The ‘No Place for Drugs’ campaign reminds people that we can all play a part in looking out for and reporting signs of damaging drug activity in our neighbourhoods.

“We don’t want to know who you are, just what you know. Information to tell our charity includes: names and/or nicknames; descriptions of those involved and any distinguishing features such as tattoos; addresses, transport used, ie, a car - a car’s make, model and registration.

Any suspicions about organised drug crime or concerns about victims can be reported to Crimestoppers 100% anonymously by calling freephone 0800 555 111 at any time or by completing a secure online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org. 

Alternatively the charity runs Fearless.org for young people, where more can be learnt about the warning signs of county lines activity.