Dear Resident

This week marks County Lines intensification week.

Below is an explanation from crime stoppers as to what county lines actually is.

What are County Lines?

County Lines is a term used for organised illegal drug-dealing networks, usually controlled by a person using a single telephone number, or ‘deal line’.

Serious organised criminals, often from big cities, recruit vulnerable children and adults, often in rural and suburban areas, as 'runners' to transport drugs and cash all over the country, often using the rail network or taxis and other private hire vehicles, so that the criminals behind it can remain detached and less likely to be detected.

Key places where county lines gangs target, approach and manipulate vulnerable young people include schools and social care spaces, street grooming and increasingly digital channels including social media, private chat apps and online gaming.

Advertising for “runners”, they glamorise gang life and entice young people who might otherwise feel like they have no options for the future, once they have their attention, they coerce their victims to commit criminal acts in return for rewards.

Most victims end up feeling 'trapped' in this criminal underworld, experiencing violence, intimidations, and threats.

This crime is often associated with other serious crimes such as sexual exploitation, violence, money laundering and human trafficking.

What happens?

Criminal gangs establish a base in a particular location, sometimes by taking over the homes of local vulnerable adults by force or coercion in a practice referred to as ‘cuckooing’ (see below). They then target vulnerable local children and adults to become involved in selling drugs through a process of grooming. Once someone is involved with a criminal gang, it becomes difficult for them to escape.

As of July 2023, the Children’s Commissioner for England believes that at least 27,000 children are County Lines gang members, with 4,000 in London alone. (Source.)

What should you do if you have information about possible County Lines and/or cuckooing?

In an emergency, or if a crime is happening now, always call the police on 999.

If you have any information about somebody who has recently moved to set up an illegal drugs network and who may be using violence or abuse to carry out their activities, please let us know.

You can speak to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or use their non-traceable online form here on their website. You will remain 100% anonymous. Always. They will never ask for your name, and your phone call or online report will never be traced.

Your information really can make a difference:

Gang members targeted: multiple pieces of information received helped police uncover a County Lines operation using cryptocurrency to money launder after running out of places to hide their profits. Reports we received prompted a lengthy police investigation, which targeted a large number of gang members.

Drug gang arrests: information given to Crimestoppers helped secure numerous arrests of County Lines drug dealers who were selling crack and heroin. A series of raids at various addresses recovered large quantities of Class A drugs, cash and ‘burner’ mobile phones used to control this line. 

Early intervention

To counter this problem, early intervention is essential. raising public awareness of this crime in the local community, encouraging people to step forward and report it all have a huge positive impact.

Please visit the Crimestoppers website for further information.