Policing Minister visits Merseyside
MP Sarah Jones met officers tackling county lines drug networks
The Policing Minister has visited Merseyside to see how police here are working to tackle county lines drug networks.
Sarah Jones MP met Merseyside Police's County Lines Team 'Project Medusa', which targets drug dealing and child criminal exploitation linked to County Lines operations.
County Lines refers to drug dealing where mobile phones are used to move and supply drugs from large cities to towns and rural areas.
The drug 'lines' are run by 'line holders' who exploit vulnerable people and children to use them as runners to transport drugs.
Between April and September 2025, 204 drugs lines have been shut down in Merseyside, with 670 arrests and 140 convictions secured for county lines offences.
94.8kg of Class A and B drugs have been seized, along with 161 weapons and more than £370,000 in illicit cash.
799 children vulnerable children and adults have also been safeguarded.
The Minister's visit including watching an early morning raid in Kirkby, where a 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.
She then met teams across the force tackling County Lines, before meeting new Police Chief Rob Carden, Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, Commander Paul Brogden , the National Police Chiefs Council lead for County Lines, and Chris McGlade, the Chair of the Merseyside Police Federation.
The Minister also joined officers and staff on community visits targeting cuckooing, which is where criminals take over the homes of vulnerable people to store or distribute drugs.
The visit then finished with a visit to Everton in the Community, where the Minister watched a virtual reality experience to highlight the devastating consequence of knife crime and County Lines exploitation.
Superintendent Phil Mullally, Merseyside Police's Lead for Serious Violence and Knife Crime, said:
"We were pleased to welcome the Policing Minister Sarah Jones to Merseyside and showcase the breadth of work underway to tackle County Lines.
"County Lines drug dealing causes real harm, exploiting vulnerable people and bringing violence and misery to our communities. It’s linked to some of the most serious crimes we face, including knife crime, weapons possession, and the exploitation of young and vulnerable people.
"Through Project Medusa, we are relentlessly pursuing those who profit from exploitation, while working hand-in-hand with partners to safeguard those at risk and break the cycle of harm"
Sue Gregory, CEO of Everton in the Community, said:
"County Lines has affected far too many people in Merseyside through the years and we welcome the government’s continued action in this area. Everton in the Community is committed to tackling the issue through its Children and Youth targeted services to prevent young people becoming involved in county lines and educating them about the risks and where to access support.
"Working alongside the government and other key partners like Merseyside Police, Premier League and Steve Morgan Foundation, Everton in the Community provides diversionary tactics and key engagement and enrichment opportunities which enables our city’s young people to aspire to more positive futures and achieve pathways they may have previously thought were out of reach."