Ten people were arrested, drugs and weapons were seized, and more than 180 students took part in awareness sessions during a week of targeted action against county lines activity in Bedfordshire.
Bedfordshire Police said the work took place last week (2 March to 8 March) as part of County Lines Intensification Week, a national campaign aimed at disrupting organised drug networks and protecting vulnerable people exploited by them.
Across the week, officers arrested ten people on suspicion of drug supply offences and recovered what the force described as significant quantities of crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin and cannabis.
Four knives, a taser and more than £28,000 in cash were also seized.
Warrants, arrests and charges
Two warrants carried out at properties in Cranfield last week (4 March) led to a 19-year-old man being charged with drugs and criminal property offences.
Police also said the proactive arrest of two men in their 20s linked to a Luton drug line resulted in nine charges between them.
Alongside enforcement, the force said there was a strong focus on education and safeguarding during the week.
More than 180 students took part in sessions based around the police’s Lost Boys virtual reality film, which is designed to help young people understand how gangs groom children into criminal activity and the risks involved.
Community policing teams also carried out knife sweeps and engagement work at transport hubs and other busy locations often used by people involved in county lines activity.
Taxi and bus drivers were also spoken to as part of the week’s action, with police recognising they may be well placed to spot suspicious behaviour or signs of exploitation.
Officers also visited addresses suspected of being “cuckooed”, where drug networks take over the homes of vulnerable people to support criminal activity. Safeguarding referrals were made where needed.
Exploitation at heart of county lines
Detective superintendent Graham Bates said: “County lines criminality is driven by organised criminals who exploit vulnerable people, often children, using intimidation, coercion and violence for their own profit.
“We remain focused on disrupting their networks, removing dangerous drugs and weapons from our communities, and protecting those being exploited.
“Raising awareness of the signs and harm linked to county lines is also vital, helping communities recognise when something is not right so intervention can happen sooner.”
He also urged anyone who may believe they have information about county lines or people being exploited to contact them, and that they can do so anonymously.
“By reporting suspicious activity that may indicate drug dealing and concerns that someone may be being exploited to us, you help us build a clearer picture of what is happening”.
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This, he says, will enable them “to take action against those who seek to profit from harm and safeguard vulnerable people.”
Police said signs that a county line may be operating in an area can include suspicious visitors to a property at all hours, increased anti-social behaviour, drug paraphernalia being found locally, and residents feeling threatened by unfamiliar groups.
To learn more about the warning signs of exploitation linked to county lines, and how to report concerns, visit the Lost Boys section of the Bedfordshire Police website.
