Officers across Merseyside have been carrying out a range of activities as part of a national focus to tackle County Lines.

Co-ordinated by the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), the week of action focussed on disrupting the criminal activities and arresting those who seek to harm our children, as well as seeking to raise awareness of the issue.

To date officers in Merseyside have arrested five people, recovered large quantities of Class A and B drugs such as cocaine and cannabis and recovered more than £80,000 in cash.

County Lines is when criminal gangs typically use children and vulnerable adults to transport and / or deal drugs to customers.

People are recruited using intimidation, deception, violence, debt bondage or grooming and the ‘victims’ are likely to commit criminal offences during the process.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Denn said: “Across Merseyside, we are working to tackle this issue day in day out and this week of action has re-enforced to those involved in this type of criminal activity that we will not put up with it. We will use a range of tactics to put a stop your criminality and take you off our streets.

“We have also been working with a range of partners, to go into schools and youth groups, to educate vulnerable young people on how they can avoid becoming a target to these criminal group and give those vulnerable people caught up in this, the confidence to break out of the cycle. Many of these young people feel that they have no choice and struggle to find a way to escape from the hurt and harm they are enduring on a daily basis.”

He added “As well as enforcement and education amongst young people, I would like to take this opportunity to remind parents, guardians and carers to familiarise themselves with the signs of someone who is being exploited and I would encourage anyone who has concerns to get in contact – speak with us directly or anonymously through Crimestoppers.

For more information on how to spot the signs someone may be being exploited visit http://www.nwrocu.police.uk/protecting-you/county-lines
You can also watch a video about the issue of County Lines here - https://vimeo.com/273864936