Leicestershire Police seize drugs and cash during week of action targeting county lines
Officers carried out 11 warrants and arrested 28 people
Leicestershire Police have seized more than £100,000 of drugs and £35,000 in cash during a national week of action to target ‘county lines’ drug dealing.
Officers carried out 11 warrants and arrested 28 people.
The operation was part of a national County Lines Intensification Week, which saw police forces up and down the country working with colleagues from a range of other agencies including children’s services, youth services, youth justice, housing providers, Community Safety Partnerships and local Violence Reduction Networks.
The action coincides with our #LookCloser investigation that revealed children as young as seven years old were being used as mules to smuggle drugs across the country.
In Leicestershire, teams from a range of agencies made 85 safeguarding visits to vulnerable young people.
County lines gangs export drugs into other areas of the country, often small towns, using dedicated mobile phone lines.
They also exploit children and vulnerable adults to move and store drugs and money, sometimes using coercion, intimidation and violence.
Chief Inspector Emma Maxwell said:
"The national County Lines Intensification Week has come just a few weeks after we arrested 43 people under Op Impose in the Hinckley area taking out an entire county line.
"We searched 76 addresses and recovered almost £200,000 in cash, various offensive weapons and around 6kg of heroin with a value in excess of £300,000 – which doesn’t take into account the street value.
"If you add the results from the national week of action as well then we have had an incredibly successful month tackling county lines criminality across the force area.
"We’ve been able to take a very significant amount of drugs off our streets and prevented criminals from continuing to supply drugs.
"However, our operation is about more than just disrupting the supply lines, we are working with local organisations to get help for those who want it and during the national week of action we made 85 safeguarding visits to vulnerable young people.
"The police cannot tackle county lines offending alone, it can only be done in partnership with many other organisations and I’d like to thank all our partners who are as determined as we are to protect vulnerable young people and give them support to get out or not get involved in the first place."
As well as enforcement activity a range of other operations ran across the week, including training workshops and inputs into schools, and an Automatic Number Plate Recognition operation.
The force's ‘Are you Listening?’ film and campaign, which was launched in November 2020, aims to teach people who work with young people how to spot the signs of child criminal exploitation (CCE) and how to get support or report CCE.
It has now been viewed more than 4.7 million times, and has been shortlisted for a Royal Television Society Award in the Best Promotional Content category.
Greatest Hits Radio have got more information on how to spot the signs of county lines, while there is help and support available on the Leicestershire Police website.
There is also a new website specifically for young people to get help and advice on how to stay safe in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
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.