COWARDS WHO USE CHILDREN AS HUMAN PAWNS
County lines drug gangs are devastating communities across the length and breadth of the uK. they are also devastating the lives of vulnerable children, enslaving them into a vicious circle of crime that is almost impossible to escape.
this newspaper has brought the growing problem into sharp focus this week – but it is one I have been aware of since becoming Home Secretary and one I am determined to tackle.
As part of this callous criminal model, ruthless gang leaders are preying on the young and using them as dispensable pawns to traffic their drugs from major cities to Britain’s rural towns before peddling them on their streets.
they are threatened with intimidation and violence, treated like modern day slaves and often end up being arrested – despite the majority being victims.
the lives of vulnerable adults are also being ruined after they lose control of their homes in a hideous practice known as cuckooing.
It is thought that more than 1,000 county lines are operating in Britain – a six-fold increase in just three years.
According to the national Crime Agency, the number of police forces reporting an issue with county lines has jumped from seven in 2015 to all 43 forces today.
two hundred police investigations are already under way into this despicable crime which makes an estimated £1.8billion profit each year.
the impact of county lines not only ruins lives and damages society. It is one of the key drivers behind the recent rise in violent crime.
It chills me that young people are being used in this cowardly way and that vulnerable adults are also being caught up in this terrible criminality.
that is why the Government is taking action to disrupt these networks, bring the evil bosses who oversee them to justice and – above all else – keep our children safe.
We have already given police forces stronger powers to stop county lines criminals in their tracks and rescue the young people ensnared in their networks.
But I know we can and must do more. that is why we have invested £ 3.6million in a new national County Lines Coordination Centre which will be fully operational from today.
the centre will have the sole purpose of identifying and disrupting county lines hotspots and the criminal networks behind them, as well as identifying potential victims.
It will be staffed with around 40 experienced officers from the police and national Crime Agency and provide the capability for law enforcement agencies to share intelligence and plan operations to catch the perpetrators who cause so much harm.
the coordination centre – which is being funded through the Government’s £40million Serious Violence Strategy – will significantly strengthen law enforcement’s response to the county lines problem.
A number of large scale raids will be taking place in the coming weeks and we will be relentless in pursuing these criminals.
We have already been working with mobile operators to identify and shut down the phone lines used by gangs to advertise their drugs and courts are using modern slavery legislation to ensure prison sentences reflect the seriousness of their crimes.
With these capabilities and the police’s ability to use appropriate stop and search powers, we are already able to take swift action.
But country lines and violent crime more generally cannot be tackled with strong law enforcement alone. That is why early intervention and prevention is at the heart of our Serious Violence Strategy. I have recently doubled the funding for early intervention initiatives to £22million.
this funding will give Police and Crime Commissioners and communities the resources to identify the young people at risk of criminal exploitation and make life changing and potentially lifesaving interventions.
In addition, our £ 13million trusted Relationships Fund also helps steer young people at risk of exploitation away from this destructive life by providing a strong and dependable role model.
It is also important that teachers, youth workers, police officers and other professionals who come into contact with children know how to spot when they are at risk of being drawn into county lines.
that is why we have recently updated guidance for front line staff. Parents too can play a vital role and I’d encourage anyone concerned their child is at risk to read it.
County Lines crime is a blight on our communities. We are already taking action but the introduction of the national Coordination Centre marks a significant step in our fightback.