Dear Resident

Hertfordshire Constabulary has made an arrest during an operation targeting an organised crime group operating in the Stevenage area.

The operation was led by Hertfordshire’s specialist county lines team, Operation Mantis, and supported by units from the Stevenage Neighbourhood Policing and Scorpion teams and the Operational Support Group.

A series of warrants were conducted on Tuesday 5 November in Stevenage and Knebworth, resulting in one person being arrested. Suspected class A drugs were recovered during the operation and a minor, believed to be a victim of criminal exploitation, was safeguarded during the operation. 

Jack Dempsey, aged 29, from Haygarth, Knebworth, was arrested and charged with:

Hertfordshire Constabulary’s spokesperson said: “This operation targeted the ‘Tony’ drug line, which was operating in the Stevenage area.

“We will continue to take a very proactive approach to targeting drug dealing in the county, working with our partners in other agencies to make it difficult for these crime groups to operate, preventing new gangs becoming established and targeting them early before they get a foothold and serious offences can occur.”

You can report information about drug crime online or speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat. You also call the non-emergency number 101. If a crime is in progress call 999.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will never need to go to court.

What is Operation Mantis?

The Operation Mantis team was launched in 2018 and is made up of officers who specialise in targeting serious and organised crime. Since May 2019 the team has executed hundreds of search warrants, more than 460 arrests and seized over £620,000 in cash. This has led to numerous county lines gangs being dismantled and offenders sentenced to more than 790 years in prison in total.

What is county lines?

County lines is the name given to describe drug dealing, which involves criminal networks from urban areas expanding their activities into smaller towns and rural areas. 

It often involves the exploitation of children, as gangs use young people and those with mental health or addiction problems to transport drugs and money. These gangs establish a base in the location they are targeting, often taking over the homes of local vulnerable adults by force or coercion in a practice referred to as ‘cuckooing’.

Dealers typically use a single phone line to facilitate the supply of Class A drugs to customers. The phone line is highly valuable and is protected through violence and intimidation.

What is Cuckooing?

Cuckooing is the term used when gangs establish a base in the location they are targeting, often taking over the homes of vulnerable adults by force or coercion.

How to spot the signs that cuckooing might be happening in your neighbourhood:

Help and support for those with drug addiction:

If someone you know has a drug problem, they can get help by contacting Frank on 0800 77 66 00 or visiting www.talktofrank.com.