County Lines are devastating young lives

Ruthless organised crime gangs are targeting our children. This can happen to any child, from any background, in any neighbourhood, that is why we all have a role to play in keeping them safe.

County lines are not just about drugs. It is about children being groomed, coerced, threatened, and controlled by crime gangs who use them to carry and sell drugs, move cash, store weapons and take unimaginable risks that could endanger their lives.

These gangs entice young people with promises of money and belonging. They often isolate them from their families and trap them in debt.

That is why tackling exploitation and drug-related crime sits firmly at the heart of my Police, Crime and Justice Plan, which makes my commitment clear: to make our communities safer, stronger a more resilient to drug and alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour.

And the force, with the support of the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit, is committed to taking action on every front.

They are relentlessly pursuing and prosecuting organised crime gangs. They are disrupting county lines networks and understanding how they adapt. They are strengthening intelligence led policing and working with partners to tackle the underlying drivers of crime.

But enforcement alone is not enough. So I am working closely with them, local authority safeguarding boards, youth justice services and community organisations to identify risks earlier so we can intervene sooner. But we could do much better.

Exploitation thrives in silence, so we need the public to share valuable intelligence and information they have via the Police (online, 101 or 999 in an emergency) or 100% anonymously via Crimestoppers.

Potential signs to look out for:

• Going missing from home or school.
• Sudden unexplained money, clothes, or multiple mobile phones.
• Secrecy about where they are going or who they are with.
• Travelling to other towns.
• A drop in attendance or change in behaviour.
• Large numbers of calls or messages from unknown contacts.
• Properties with frequent visitors at unusual hours a possible sign of “cuckooing.”

If something does not feel right, please report it!  You will never be criticised for reporting a concern.  But a child may suffer if you do not.

Reporting is not about getting a young person into trouble - it is about safeguarding them. It gives police and partners the intelligence they need to intervene early, disrupt gangs, and protect victims.

Together, by spotting the signs, sharing information and taking a stand against exploitation we will protect our children, families and communities from crime and harm.

Together, we can break these criminal networks.

Together, we will make County Durham and Darlington safer and stronger and more resilient to drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour.

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