Detectives lead event sharpening focus on county lines exploitation

Our detectives brought together experts in the field of county lines exploitation and modern day slavery to sharpen our focus on “one of the most pressing issues of our time”.

So far this year, our Serious Violence Unit has arrested more than 300 people and charged more than 230 in connection with county lines activity.

But we’ve also demonstrated our commitment to protecting those who are exploited by these drugs gangs – seeing more than 160 people safeguarded this year alone.

At a conference held on 7 August in Chelmsford and organised by Essex Police, stories were shared by those with lived experiences in the county lines world.

Talks followed from leading detectives, frontline practitioners who work with young people, and academic researchers in the field.

Each session was a chance to explore successful interventions and safeguarding strategies for exploited people.

The event featured presentations and input from:

• The Ivison Trust, who presented a case study featuring a mum and son with lived experience of the impact of county lines activity.
• Essex County Council’s Risk in the Community and Active Essex, as well as The Violence and Vulnerability Unit’s ReRoute programme, all shared the experience of frontline practitioners dealing with young people caught up in county lines.
• Dr Paul Nelson, senior lecturer in criminology at Anglia Ruskin University, whose presentation was based on unregistered children's homes and child criminal exploitation.

Our own Operation Raptor teams, part of our Serious Violence Unit, presented a case study on the ‘Curtis’ drug line, which operated in Clacton.

Earlier this year, we shared how our investigation identified three missing teenage boys who had been coerced into working for the line.

They were trafficked to Clacton from their homes in other areas of Essex.

Following a lengthy investigation, each child was safeguarded by our teams, with the offenders running the line caught, charged and jailed for a combined 19 years.

'Learning from lived experiences'

Detective Inspector Mark Jones, who hosted the event, said:

“This event gave us a unique opportunity to deepen our knowledge, reflect on practice, and strengthen collaborative responses to one of the most pressing safeguarding issues of our time.
“County lines gangs exploit or employ children, drug users and the vulnerable as a ready source of cheap labour.
“They use the threat of violence or the entirely false offer of wealth and status to do so.
“Children, by their nature and lack of experience, are much more vulnerable to these types of influences.
“The numbers we’ve seen so far this year, while a result of our proactive police work, do illustrate the depth of the problem we face.
“This has largely been about learning form the lived experiences of those who have been involved in county lines activity.
“A policing perspective, alone and in isolation, is not enough to get to grips with the motivations and reality of those either exploited or recruited to engage in the drugs world.
“We can also broaden our joint understanding by bringing together our partners who deal with young people engaged in this activity.
“Arrests, charges and prison sentences alone will not stop the county lines drug trade.
“We need to understand and deal with the underlying causes of addiction, which drives the demand for Class A drugs.
“Childhood trauma is at the forefront of this. We need to continue to focus on a whole-system approach where trauma-prevention, rehabilitation and early intervention run in tandem with enforcement."

If you have concerns that a child might be at risk of grooming or exploitation, Ivison Trust support parents in England and Wales whose children have been sexually or criminally exploited.

For more information visit their website or call 0113 240 3040.

Are you worried that a friend or someone you know may be being exploited through County Lines or organised criminal activity?

Maybe they are returning home late, staying out all night or even going missing for days or weeks at a time.

Are they suddenly being secretive about who they are talking to or where they are going?

Or perhaps you’ve noticed they have large amounts of money on them, or new clothing, jewellery or phones they wouldn’t be able to afford.

Through Fearless, young people can pass on information 100% anonymously to get help.

If you need help from police, call 101 or, if it's an emergency, always call 999.