County Lines presentation at Neath College

Hello and Good Evening,

Today PCSO Burns has attended at Neath College and delivered an informative presentation in relation to County Lines activity to foundation stage students. The session went really well with a lot of positive interaction from the students who were in attendance. 

County lines drug trafficking relies heavily on the exploitation of those with limited defences, often referred to as "grooming." Gangs specifically target children in the foster care system, individuals with learning disabilities, or those struggling with addiction and poverty. By offering seemingly "easy" cash, expensive clothing, or a false sense of belonging, traffickers create a debt-bondage trap that forces victims into high-risk roles like drug running.

​Another hallmark of this exploitation is "cuckooing," where dealers take over the home of a vulnerable adult—frequently someone with mental health issues or physical disabilities—to use as a local base for operations. This turns a victim’s private sanctuary into a hub for criminal activity, leaving them trapped by fear and physical intimidation. 

I will be looking to develop more partnership working in collaboration with staff at the college in order to keep our young people safe.