More than 2,000 county lines have been dismantled in the last 18
months, as the government hits its target of closing thousands of
these criminal networks early.
Data
published this month shows the ambitious three-year
target, made in the government’s 10-year drug strategy, has been
achieved in just a year and a half, with dedicated police
taskforces from the County Lines Programme arresting senior line
holders and breaking the gangs that terrorise communities.
Between April 2022 and September this year, over 4,000 arrests
have been made, whilst 4,800 vulnerable people caught up in these
vile operations have been offered support to turn their lives
around.
Between April and September 2023, over 700 lines were dismantled,
1,300 arrests made and 1,600 victims were supported.
These results demonstrate the relentless targeting of county
lines by the police, who are persistently closing them down as
they appear.
The government is also keeping the dangerous criminals behind
these gangs locked up for longer, ensuring they are off our
streets and stopping them re-opening drug networks.
Home Secretary said:
County lines gangs are some of the most vile, exploitative
criminals in this country, lining their pockets at the expense of
countless vulnerable lives.
We set a target of taking down 2,000 lines in three years, which
we have delivered in half the time. We will go even further to
shut down these criminal enterprises and help victims to turn
their lives around.
The Home Office launched the County Lines Programme in 2019 to
tackle the harmful drug supply model which devastates lives
through exploitation, coercion and violence.
County lines gangs often target the most vulnerable
people, manipulating and coercing them into debt, and
forcing them to transport and sell drugs.
A key part of the County Lines Programme lies in victim support
to ensure that young people and their families have the support
they need as they escape these gangs.
Since the start of the programme, the Home Office has invested up
to £5 million in support services like Catch22 and Missing
People, who carry out crucial work to help vulnerable individuals
and families.
Catch22 provides specialist support and rescue services for young
people and their families who are criminally exploited through
county lines.
One vulnerable young person who has turned their back on county
lines criminality due to Catch22’s work is Liam*.
Liam was referred to Catch22 by social services after a raid at
his home found his mother and brother in possession of Class A
and Class B drugs, alongside £3,000 in cash. A subsequent raid
found 11 bags of cannabis and weapons. Care workers were
concerned that Liam was going down the same path as his family
and referred him to Catch22 for support.
Whilst Liam was resistant to support at first, Catch22 were able
to build a relationship with him and help him understand the
dangers of getting involved in county lines and drug use and how
to recognise and avoid criminal exploitation.
Liam never missed a session with Catch22 and his attendance and
performance at college subsequently improved. He has now moved
onto a construction college, knowing that support is there if he
is struggling.
Liam is just one of hundreds of young people who have been
supported by Home Office-funded victim support services since
2022 and shows that vulnerable, hard-to-reach people can, with
support, make different choices and turn their backs on a life of
criminality.
The government has committed to increasing police funding to
tackle criminal activity like county lines and this month
announced the 2024-25 provisional police funding settlement which
will give police forces in England and Wales up to £922 million
additional funding next year, should Police and Crime
Commissioners choose to take full advantage of police precept
flexibility. In addition to this, over £200 million will be
invested in priority projects next year, including continued work
to tackle county lines.
The government has also delivered on its manifesto commitment to
recruit 20,000 additional officers by March 2023, bolstering
police action against these gangs with a record high of almost
150,000 officers across England and Wales.
*Liam is not the victim’s real name, which has been changed to
protect his identity.
