"This is about making money out of other people's misery"
Four months on from our county lines drug dealing special we caught up with North Yorkshire Police to see how they're cracking down on gangs
Last updated 2nd Nov 2021
Making it more difficult for gangs to make money in Harrogate and North Yorkshire is how police are going to stamp out county lines drug dealing, a Detective Superintendent has said.
It's as North Yorkshire Police have carried out their latest week of intensification cracking down on county lines drug dealing.
Between 11 and 17 of October, 14 people were arrested in connection with county lines dealing and 38 people have been safeguarded as a result of their week of intensification.
We went on a raid in Skipton where a 17-year-old male was arrested for county lines related offences.
Four months on from our exclusive county lines special, we've met with Detective Superintendent Steve Thomas to see what's changed in that time.
He told Greatest Hits Radio and Hits Radio that working with our boarding forces and making North Yorkshire an unprofitable place to deal is how they are going to stamp out county lines.
He said: "This is about making money through other people's misery. If we can target the money and make it less profitable or not profitable at all that's how you address it. It used to be that we'd arrest a drug dealer and they might risk going to prison. Because gang are using other people they don't feel at risk.
"I wouldn't be truthful if I said it wasn't difficult at times but now it's all about money. If we can take the money out of it by being as disruptive and being as hostile as possible, we'll make this less attractive and then eventually, hopefully tackle it."
Last week five members of a serious and organised crime group that trafficked class A drugs between North Yorkshire and Greater Manchester were been jailed for a total of 25 years.
It was after an 18-month investigation led by detectives in GMP Oldham's Challenger team.
North Yorkshire Police's approach to tackling county lines drug dealing is slightly different to our neighbouring forces as our county is an importer rather than an exporter of drugs, meaning gangs see North Yorkshire as a profitable area to deal in.
So officers are working proactively with other police forces across the country to disrupt people coming to North Yorkshire to supply drugs.
Detective Superintendent Thomas, added: "What we're starting to see now over the next 12 to 24 months will be a greater capacity and capability from law enforcement and partnerships to deal with the problem and I think that will have a significant impact on the profitability and sustainability of this crime problem.
"We've had fantastic success in catching people but unfortunately every one of those successes is a reminder that we still have the problem to deal with.
"It's a really good opportunity for us to work with and compliment every force across the country, with British Transport Police and the National Crime Agency to really focus on disrupting street level county lines drug dealing and to safeguard vulnerable people caught up in it".
In this most recent week of intensification in Harrogate, an 18-year-old man was arrested after being stopped by police in possession of 15 packages of cannabis.
Two women in their 30s were arrested at a property in Starbeck on suspicion of possessing heroin with intent to supply.
A 16-year-old boy and another 18-year-old man were arrested on Jennyfield Drive after a stop a search found them in possession of ketamine, cannabis, £300 cash and equipment suspected of being used for drug supply.
In the same week in Skipton officers arrested a 17-year-old boy after cannabis and drugs paraphernalia including small plastic bags and scales were recovered from his home and in a separate investigation in the Craven area, a 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of supplying ecstasy.
All arrested have been released while under investigation, and safeguarding measures have also been put in place for those under the age of 18 alongside criminal investigations.
In the last week of intensification in May this year, 20 arrests were made, 87 welfare visits carried out £10,000 was seized across North Yorkshire.
We followed officers as they went on these raids and visited victims of cuckooing, which is practice used by gangs where they take over a person's home and use the property to facilitate exploitation.
We then spoke with a young person who is currently still involved in county lines dealing, and has been since he was nine years old and his case worker from St Giles Trust who is helping him understand and hopefully get out of the vicious cycle.
Young people who have been groomed and exploited by drug dealers often travel long distances on public transport to deliver money and drugs. Officers engaged with transport providers including taxi and bus drivers to raise awareness of how to spot children who may have been exploited and are travelling to North Yorkshire to sell drugs.
They also patrolled railways stations with British Transport Police where they engaged with rail passengers and were on the look-out for potential victims of trafficking, and drugs being transported into the county.
What are the signs of County Lines?
What are the signs that children are being exploited?
There are a number of signs which may help reveal whether a child is being exploited by County Lines drugs gangs. It is up to the public and campaigns like #LookCloser to identify these signs and help protect children at risk.
Children looking anxious or lost
Children travelling alone frequently, either at night or during school hours, is one sign to look out for. Children that are being exploited may appear lost or unfamiliar with their surroundings. Appearing anxious, frightened and angry is also an indicator.
Carrying two phones
Being in possession of more than one phone is an indicator that children may be contacting the individuals or groups that are exploiting them.
Carrying lots of cash
Carrying large sums of money is another sign to look out for when worried that a child is being exploited.
Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Children involved with County Lines drugs gangs could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Being controlled by others
Being instructed or controlled by another individual, or being accompanied by people that are older than them, is another sign that a child may be being exploited.
Begging for money
Children that are begging in a public space is another indicator.
Where to spot children being exploited by County Lines gangs
It's important to know where children that are being exploited might be found. Buses, trains, trams and other forms of public transport are used to move children. Food outlets or roadside services may be used for children to stock up on amenities. Hotels, salons and car washes may be places where exploitation happens 'behind closed doors'.
Will there be exploited children near me?
There's a chance you might come across a child being exploited when at your place of work. They may be found in banks when moving money between accounts.
Taxis and private hire vehicles may be used by children when in contact with those who are exploiting them; it's important for taxi drivers to not ignore concerning phone conversations.
Takeaway and delivery drivers who visit residential areas and travel through public spaces may have the opportunity to identify a household in which children are being exploited. Retail workers may come into contact with children that are stealing items or begging for money, which are also signifiers.
Hotels, caravan parks and rented accommodation are used to abuse and exploit children. Workers should keep an eye out for young people checking in with adults that do not appear to be their parents.