POLICE are asking residents to report any drug-related activity and information to officers of independent charity Crimestoppers.

As part of its operation scorpion, Dorset Police has vowed to build a "ring of steel" around the county to tackle the crime.

It said residents play an "important role" in helping police forces to build an intelligence picture, with any piece of information linked to drugs activity helping "disrupt" drug-related activity.

Assistant chief constable Neil Corrigan said: “If something doesn’t feel right, quite often it isn’t, so please trust your instincts and tell us what you know.

“Every piece of intelligence that is received by Dorset Police helps to build a picture. Things may not be actioned immediately, but as more intelligence is gathered it helps to provide vital information that could enable us to take enforcement action, safeguard a possible victim or identify someone involved in crime.”

Dorset's police and crime commissioner David Sidwick added: “I want to be clear: your information could be the missing piece of the puzzle the police need to stop illegal drug deals in your community.

“Help us in our fight to drive these criminals out of Dorset and the wider region by continuing to report the unusual or suspicious activity you see where you live and work.