Pictures show moment man is arrested after 'drugs' found

The man, from Bournemouth, was suspected to have drugs on him. Officers searched a hotel in St Michael's Road, West Cliff.

He was detained and taken away in a police car by officers on the afternoon of Friday, March 8.

The arrest came during an operation scorpion patrol during a week of action to fight drug offences in Dorset and the south west. 

More than £800,000 worth of drugs and 267 weapons have been taken off the streets in the seventh iteration of the initiative designed to create a ‘ring of steel’ around the region. 

The focus of this phase was targeting visible street dealing and the impact of drug activity within Dorset, highlighting the importance of intelligence from residents to help police tackle the crime. 

Last week, police officers in the south west made 126 arrests, seized £814k worth of drugs and £95k of cash, along with 67 weapons seized and more than 200 weapons surrendered by the public. 

Dorset police and crime commissioner David Sidwick said all pieces of information reported to the force is “pure gold” to officers in enabling a bigger picture to be built. 

He said: “What we need from the public is for them to report what they see; the dug dealing in our communities, where it is, who it is, what time, any registration numbers that are involved... That sort of intelligence is pure gold to Dorset Police. 

“The importance of intelligence is you may have one piece of it to build an evidence case, somebody else might have the registration, someone may know where they stash the stuff. 

He was taken away to the police station (Image: Daily Echo)

“All those elements are useful and one alone won’t allow the police to act so that’s why giving police intelligence is so important.” 

He added: “The point is the drugs that are being dealt cause immeasurable harm not just to the individuals, but also to our communities. 

“When I talk to the people of Dorset, they say to me they want drugs being addressed and this is exactly what we’re doing. 

“We’re here in West Hill in Bournemouth, making certain that we are now addressing street dealing because we know that along with county lines, that’s what people want Dorset Police to fight.” 

Dorset PCC David Sidwick and chief inspector for BCP Darren Harris in the Lower Gardens (Image: Daily Echo)

Speaking on the week, Mr Sidwick said: “From stopping vehicles and carrying out warrants at reported properties to safeguarding vulnerable people and returning stolen goods to businesses, I saw first-hand the work carried out by officers and want to thank and commend them for their dedication to driving drugs out of our communities. 

“I am clear; drug gangs and those intent on bringing illegal drugs to Dorset and the wider south west region will be targeted and removed. The police will find you; they will follow you and they won’t stop until they’ve got you. 

“Lastly, I want to thank you, the public for your intelligence reports, and encourage you to keep reporting the small pieces of information which could make the biggest difference to where you live.” 

Neil Corrigan, assistant chief constable of Dorset Police, added: “Using information reported to police and Crimestoppers, forces were able to build up a picture of what illegal activity was happening and use the intelligence to inform how and where we would target our operational activity.”  

Anyone with information about illegal drugs activity should report it to their local police service online or via 101. Always call 999 in an emergency. 

Alternatively you can pass information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers. They are available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year on 0800 555 111 or you can use their non-traceable online form. Contact will remain 100 per cent anonymous. 

They will never ask for a name or contact details and the phone call or online report will never be traced. If the information supplied leads to an arrest and charge, there could be a cash reward of up to £1,000.