Officer urges people to be aware of signs of criminal exploitation following county lines week of action

A week of action across Suffolk focussing on county lines drug dealing has been used to safeguard those at risk of being exploited while targeting those responsible.

In total 24 people were arrested during County Lines Intensification Week which took place between March 2 and 8.

Much of the focus for the national week of action was for officers and partner agencies to be aware of and work towards reducing child exploitation, particularly child criminal exploitation associated with county lines, including the use of transport networks to distribute and sell drugs.

Children can be exploited into transporting or selling drugs, both locally and across county borders.

Other exploitation includes other associated criminality, such as carrying weapons, being involved in violence, or being the victims of sexual exploitation.

A person under 18 cannot consent to their exploitation.

County lines is where 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.

The county line is the mobile phone line used to take the orders of drugs.

While the week of action saw the arrest of individuals, there were a range of awareness events and vulnerability checks taking place, as well as training offered for officers and partners to be better able to identify and respond to victims of child exploitation.

The operation involved local policing teams across the county, as well as investigative, proactive and specialist teams.

Of the 24 people arrested, seven people were charged and remanded, with the others still being investigated.

In total seven lines were disrupted, with line phones used to advertise and sell drugs seized and closed down.

An estimated £122,000 of heroin was located and seized, along with crystal meth worth £60-£80,000 and cocaine worth £13,750.

Weapons, including an imitation gun, knuckle dusters, a knife and an extendable baton, were also removed from the streets.

Detective Chief Inspector Greg Moore said: “These weeks of action continue to play an important tool in our work to disrupt organised crime and help safeguard some of our most vulnerable members of society, including those that come from towns and cities in other parts of the country.

“This work takes place every single day of the year, but increased proactivity and awareness across the constabulary ensures our officers know the signs of what to look out for, not just for those participating and profiting from these crimes but also signs that might indicate somebody is a victim.

“It is important that everybody is aware of these signs. Signs that a child could be being forced to carry packages or weapons for a gang. Signs that an exploited child is being checked into a hotel with an adult; signs that students are being encouraged via social media to deposit large amounts of cash, potentially unaware they are laundering money for organised crime groups.

“Local intelligence is a key part of ensuring we are investigating, targeting and collating evidence to disrupt those that are causing harm in our communities.

“I would continue to urge you to contact police if you have any concerns or any information that may help  bring those responsible to justice.

“If you would like support or more information on some of the signs to look out for you can visit The Children’s Society website or the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership on the Suffolk County Council website.”