Over £300,000 worth of drugs have been removed from the streets of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as part of a national week of intensification to tackle the drug supply and related high harm that brings violence and misery to communities, and exposes young people at risk to exploitation.
Officers across the whole county have been targeting those individuals responsible for supplying drugs in our local communities – including those travelling from large cities from further afield such as London and Liverpool – and seizing copious amounts of drugs, cash, mobile phones and weapons.
What is County Lines?
County Lines means to deal drugs using mobile phones, usually from large cities to towns and rural areas in the UK. Line holders will use runners, often young and vulnerable children, to deliver the drugs. It’s linked to some of the most serious and violent crimes such as human trafficking, modern slavery and child exploitation.
Throughout the week of action, which ran from Monday 25th November until Sunday 1st December, officers arrested 94 individuals who were either deemed to be ‘line holders’ or those who were responsible for supplying drugs on the line holders behalf.
Results from the action
The force-wide policing activity across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight yielded the following results in terms of drugs being removed from our streets:
- Cocaine – 2.99kg with a street value of £151,450
- Crack – 355g with a street value of £31,150
- Heroin – 19.5g with a street value of £2,415
- Cannabis – 11,584g with a street value of £115,840
Alongside this, as a result of numerous warrants being executed, stop searches being conducted and other intel-led activity the Constabulary has dismantled 14 county lines, seized £134,600 in cash and / or proceeds from criminal activity in relation to drug supply, seized 170 mobile phones and devices as well as confiscating 33 weapons including bladed weapons, a crossbow, a baton and a baseball bat.
IW stats
On the Isle of Wight, the action yielded the following:
- 1 arrest
- 23g of Class A seized
- 19g of Class B seized
- £1,380 in cash seized
- 1 bladed weapon seized
Kennedy: We will not stand for it in our local cities, towns and villages
Chief Inspector Marcus Kennedy, Drug Related Crime and Harm Tactical Lead for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, said,
“We are not naive to the fact that there are County Lines operating within our local communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and the challenges this brings around further tackling the exploitation of vulnerable, often young, people.
“The associated violence, which often comes part and parcel with organised County Lines, blights our communities and we are doing our utmost to successfully disrupt those main drug supply lines and bring those responsible to justice via the courts.
“We will not stand for it in our local cities, towns and villages.”
Criminally exploiting children
County Lines drug dealing networks often seek to criminally exploit children into becoming drugs runners for them; whether that be through emotional and physical manipulation, through to being sexually abused and forced to launder money and deal drugs.
Child exploitation isn’t just impacting young people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – but we do know that it is happening in our local communities – with professional criminals targeting the homes of vulnerable people to be used for drug-dealing – a process known as ‘cuckooing’.
Young vulnerable people used
Line holders will often send young vulnerable people to stay at the houses being cuckooed and distribute the drugs where it is more than likely against a backdrop of intimidation, threat and harm being imposed upon them should they not comply.
The impact of this is that young people – who use the mobile phones to order more drugs, carried by other young people or vulnerable adults, travel by train or car – become indebted to gangs and groups and subsequently forced into labour and exploitation to pay off debts.
As part of the week of action, our officers arrested 12 young people for drug-related offences – these have since been appropriately safeguarded against future threat and harm. While three other children were also safeguarded separately as part of our wider enquiries.
Kennedy: It doesn’t end here
Chief Inspector Kennedy, continued,
“This week alone we have dismantled a number of high-profile drug supply networks that have been operating in and out of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, while we have seized a huge volume of drugs which would have undoubtedly found its way onto the streets and into the hands of vulnerable users – those who we are seeking to safeguard and support through locally commissioned services.
“During this period of intensification, whilst there has been a specific focus on county line drug dealing, this will not stop us in our pursuit of those who continue to criminally exploit others – including young and vulnerable people. It doesn’t end here.
“Beyond this week, we want to send out a stark reminder to those seeking to exploit people to deal drugs for them within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight that this is a hostile place for you to be attempting to operate in and that the misery and associated violence you bring with you is not welcome on our streets.
“We will continue to hold those responsible to account for their actions and making their lives as difficult as possible. For that, I will not and I do not apologise. We will ensure justice is served.”
Your help needed
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary need the public’s help. If you recognise anything suspicious or looks out of place, perhaps it doesn’t feel right, please don’t just ignore it. We would implore you to take action which may very well just safeguard a very vulnerable child.
You can raise your concerns with police by calling 101 or by making a report via the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary website.
Advice and support:
- Crimestoppers – An independent charity, which offers a range of advice and support. Crimes can be reported completely anonymously on 0800 555 111.
- Missing People’s SafeCall – a confidential and anonymous helpline and support service for young people and family members in England and Wales that are affected by county lines and criminal exploitation. The service also provides confidential support and advice for professionals in relation to their work with an exploited young person or family. Call or text 116000 for free, 9am to 11pm, 7 days a week.
- Barnardo’s Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship Service – provides an independent source of advice and advocacy for children who have been trafficked and somebody who can speak up on their behalf.
- NSPCC – provides advice on how to spot the signs and report child exploitation and involvement in gangs.
- The Children’s Society – a national charity, which aims to protect and support young people from a range of issues, including child exploitation, criminal gangs and violence.
If you have any information or are concerned about someone then you should call the police on 101 to make a report or 999 if there is an immediate risk. If on a train text British Transport Police on 61016.
News shared by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, in their own words. Ed
