Specialist teams work around the clock to dismantle drugs gangs

Our work to tackle county lines gangs doesn’t stop after we catch dealers selling dangerous substances and put them behind bars.

We also focus on dismantling and disrupting the illicit organisations responsible for directing the runners on the street.

It takes a whole system approach to tackle these gangs.

Detective Chief Inspector Neal Miller, of our Serious Violence Unit, said:

“Within Essex Police, we have teams focused, day and night, on tackling organised crime.
“But importantly, we also have officers on the ground who know their communities and know that the information passed on by residents is so important to tackling drug-related crime.”

Our Serious Violence Unit was set up in in July 2020 to primarily dismantle and disrupt county drug lines and prevent and reduce serious violence.

It includes our Operation Raptor teams, who have been at the forefront of Essex Police’s work to tackle drugs gangs in recent years.

The Unit works closely with experts and policing teams across Essex Police, with partners such as the Violence and Vulnerability Unit, and other police forces and law enforcement agencies.

Op Raptor teams carry out specialist work to dismantle county lines gangs.

These gangs are from outside Essex – usually London – and sell drugs in our county, bringing the violence, anti-social behaviour, and exploitation of young people and vulnerable adults that goes hand in hand with drug dealing.

We are solving cases and catching drug dealers

Our approach is working.

In the 12 months to July 2023, we recorded 1,477 less drug-related offences when compared with the same period in the 12 months to July 2020, a decrease of 20%.

We solved 4,377 cases involving drug offending in the 12 months to July 2023.

DCI Miller added:

“Criminals involved in gangs and drug dealing will routinely use violence and intimidation as tools to further their financial gain and control.
“They will also groom and exploit young people and vulnerable adults, bending them to their will and distancing themselves from the misery and reality of drug dealing on the streets.
“This will often the form of gangs taking over a drug user’s home, to use as a base for selling and preparing drugs.
“Eradicating the damage caused by drugs cannot be achieved by enforcement alone and needs to reach further afield to those at risk of being used by gangs.
“Helping people to escape this lifestyle and protecting those at risk is absolutely vital.”

A key tool is the use of gang injunctions, which can be utilised after we build cases on drug dealers before we even make the arrest.

Just this week, specialist officers secured gang injunctions against 16 people, including eight teenagers, as part of our efforts to disrupt and dismantle gangs in Thurrock.

The injunctions carry stringent conditions which, if breached, can lead to the teenagers being arrested.

Essex Police works with organisations such as Open Road on ensuring support is in place for people across the county.

What you know could be the missing puzzle piece we’re looking for.

We know that information held by our communities can help us to keep people safe and catch criminals.

We also know that our communities need to trust that we will listen to them and take action when we need to.

Our Police Intelligence page explains what happens when you tell us something you've seen or heard. It explains what to expect and what we need to know when you give us information. 

If you see or hear something that doesn’t seem right or causes you concern, we want you to tell us about it.

At Essex Police, we value difference. We know we’re strongest when we work together. And we want a workforce that represents our communities. 

If you share our values and want to help people, keep people safe and catch criminals, then join us as a police officer, member of staff, special constable or volunteer.

Find out if you #FitTheBill by visiting our careers page.