Latest news with #countyLines
BBC News
05-07-2025
- BBC News
County lines drug dealing crackdown in Suffolk leads to arrests
A week-long police operation aimed at tackling county lines drug dealing has resulted in 30 arrests. Suffolk Police said eight supply lines were also disrupted and 1.46kg (3.2lb) of drugs with an estimated street value of about £148,000 was seized. The operation was part of a national crackdown on county lines activities, aimed at reducing child exploitation and child criminal exploitation in particular. Det Supt Tam Burgess said: "We have had some excellent results, with a number of those arrested quickly charged and remanded." 'Intimidating behaviours' County lines is when illegal drugs are transported from one area to another, often across police and local authority boundaries, and often by children or vulnerable people who are coerced into it by gangs, said police. The county line is the mobile phone line used to take the orders of drugs."People involved in county lines are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move and store the drugs and money often using coercive, intimidating behaviours including use and threats of violence and weapons," said Det Supt Burgess.A range of awareness events and vulnerability checks took place and officers were trained to help them better identify and respond to victims of child exploitation. Drugs, cash and weapons were seized, including cannabis plants and edibles, more than £10,000 in cash, two knives and 37 mobile phones. Of the 30 people arrested, seven have been charged and remanded into custody. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Sleaford students warned about county lines through drama
More than 400 students have been learning about the dangers associated with organised crime and county lines drug gangs through a creative production, called CODE, was performed at St George's Academy in Sleaford by charity Justice in Motion, which has been touring for two years to raise awareness of the issue.A mixture of physical theatre and bike stunts, along with rap and music were used to tell the story of an individual who gets involved in knife crime and drug Meinhardt, artistic director of the charity, said: "The show touches pretty much everyone in society. Too many children are involved in a trade that is an exploitation of young people." The term county lines refers to criminal gangs who move illegal drugs from cities to rural locations, and sell them using dedicated mobile phone gangs often recruit young or vulnerable people to distribute the drugs, according to Lincolnshire Home Office estimates that about 14,500 children were identified as at risk or involved in child criminal exploitation in 12, who watched the performance, said: "I thought it was an excellent performance. It wasn't just a lecture, and it used younger people which not many performances do."Louise, 13, added: "I thought it was a really important message to tell everyone that no matter what age, gender or race you are it could happen to anyone."The show was part of a three-day residency in the area, which also included workshops and will also be performances on Saturday at 10:30 and 14:00 BST at Sleaford Market Place. The events have been organised by North Kesteven District Council, alongside Lincolnshire County Council Public Health and the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership. Sgt Mel Standbrook, education sergeant at Lincolnshire Police, said: "If children are preyed upon, or if they do find they're being groomed or exploited, it's about being able to say this is what's happening, and this is how I can get help."Preventative education around knife crime and county lines is really important for our young people." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Police seize £618k in drugs in county lines crackdown
Eight drug lines have been dismantled in the West Mercia Police area during a week of action, the force says. Drugs with an estimated value of £618,000 were seized by officers along with more than £77,000 in cash and 20 weapons. Police also made 65 crackdown on county lines networks from 23 June formed part of Operation Target, the force's campaign to tackle serious and organised crime. the force worked alongside Merseyside Police, West Midlands Police, British Transport Police and partner agencies, including councils and housing associations. Drugs seized included a "large amount of cannabis, crack cocaine, powdered cocaine and heroin".Machetes, swords, knives and a crossbow were among the weapons recovered. 'Hostile environment' Officers made 34 visits to addresses believed to be forcibly used for drug dealing and as a result, safeguarded 14 vulnerable young people and adults, the force said. The force also went to schools and community events to raise awareness of the dangers and signs of county lines Ch Insp Jo Woods said: "Organised crime gangs seek to profit from the exploitation of vulnerable people, spreading misery, intimidation and violence in the name of profit."Our aim is to create a hostile environment for these individuals who wish to cause harm to members of our communities." Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said he continued to back the force with its year-round efforts to break supply said: "Drugs devastate communities, from addiction all the way to the exploitation of the most vulnerable in our society." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Arrests and drugs seized in North Yorkshire county lines crackdown
Police have seized drugs and made five arrests as part of an operation targeting county lines from North Yorkshire Police executed warrants at 36 properties in Scarborough, Selby, Richmond and Harrogate across a seven-day Supt Fionna McEwan said while the county "remains one of the safest places in the country" gangs were still operating in the members of the public to report any suspicious activity, she said: "The information maybe the missing piece of the jigsaw that helps us to further protect our communities." County lines refers to the movement of drugs from usually bigger cities to small communities and often involves the exploitation of vulnerable the week of action, officers also made checks at homes where people may have been subjected to "cuckooing" - when a perpetrator takes over a person's home and uses the property for criminal Supt McEwan added: "I want to thank the fantastic partners we work with every day who help build intelligence, educate young people, protect those people who are being exploited, and target the offenders running these lines. "It is the strength of the partnership that makes the difference." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment police arrest county lines 'gang member' during dawn raid as they shut down 100 drugs networks in a week
This is the moment dozens of police officers smashed their way into a home of a suspected county lines criminal as they crackdown on 100 drug networks in a single week. Dramatic bodycam footage shows armed officers barge into a property in the Isle of Dogs, east London in a dawn raid on June 26. Loud shouts could be heard as they pile into the flat where over £5,000 worth of class B and class A drugs, as well as sports cars and luxury watches were found. The man is repeatedly told to 'relax' by police as he continues to frantically reiterate 'No fighting' and 'I'm not violent'. Altogether, that day, four men were arrested in London, with two of those detained at an address in Portsmouth as police busted a county line between Hampshire and the capital city. The fourth was taken into custody at London Gatwick airport, and charges were later made relating to these arrests. It comes as the Metropolitan Police crackdown on county lines drug networks shutting down over 100 in a single week. Between June 23 and June 29, around 301 people believed to be involved in the organised drug dealing groups, which use phone lines to siphon drugs from cities to rural areas. One hundred and eleven people have been charged so far, with over £600,000 in cash, 70kg of class A drugs, 78 dangerous weapons, including samurai swords and Zombie knives, as well as 12 firearms retrieved in the serious of raids. County lines drug dealing networks are known as a violent business model, which exploits young people, children and those with mental health and addiction issues. In a week, 260 vulnerable or young people were safeguarded in a bid to prevent their further involvement with organised crime. Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell, from the Metropolitan Police Service and National County Lines Coordination Centre, said: 'The Commissioner recently spoke about the indisputable link between county lines and violence. Disrupting county lines is not only vital in keeping society's most vulnerable safe, but also as a key part of our mission in tackling violence. 'The criminals behind these networks are dangerous individuals, capable of manipulating and exploiting anyone to achieve their aims. 'Dedicated Met officers continue to work closely with other police forces around the UK to ensure dangerous offenders are stopped.'
