Cross border county lines gangs being tackled in latest regional operation

• Communities are being mobilised in the latest attempt to disrupt drug dealing in the South West
• residents are being urged to report any drug-related activity to help inform a regional campaign to disrupt county lines gangs
• as well as targeting increased disruption on the ground, the wider aim is to ensure young people, and their families, are not only warned about the dangers of exploitation, but also how to spot the signs
• the region’s five police forces and their police and crime commissioners have come together to tackle cross border drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour
• Gloucestershire PCC Chris Nelson said: “The key to stopping drugs, is the intelligence gathered in our communities, because the police need to know where it’s happening so they can take action”.

 Communities across the south west are being urged to report any drug-related activity that will help inform a regional campaign to disrupt county lines gangs.

It is the latest phase of a continuing clampdown across the south west with exact locations and timings being kept under wraps.

The operation harnesses the collective powers of the region to disrupt drug-related crime. As well as targeting increased disruption on the ground, the wider aim is to ensure young people – and their families – are being warned about the dangers of exploitation and how to spot the signs.

The focus is a result of the region’s five Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) from Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall and Avon and Somerset, agreeing with their respective Chief Constables that their Forces would combine operational powers to tackle cross border drugs supply, drug-related crime and associated anti-social behaviour (ASB).

“I hope we can all work together to make the lives of criminals involved as uncomfortable as possible”

Residents are being urged to watch out for signs of county lines dealing – where drugs are transported, often by children or vulnerable people who are coerced by gangs – and report information to the police or anonymously to Crimestoppers.

Gloucestershire PCC Chris Nelson said: “County Lines, and associated drug crime, isn’t just a problem for urban police forces – it’s here, in the south west. Often hidden in plain sight.

“I hear time and again how people are sick to death of drug dealers operating on street corners in plain sight. Often making it impossible for ordinary life to continue. The knock-on effects of drug dealers in communities is making life unbearable. The absolute key to stopping it, is the intelligence gathered in our communities because the police need to know where it’s happening so they can take action.

“Across the south west, myself and the other Police and Crime Commissioners and respective forces, are working relentlessly to ensure that county lines dealing operations can be driven out of our villages, towns and cities by police working closely with local people. I hope we can all work together to make the lives of criminals involved as uncomfortable as possible and send the message that the south west is a hostile environment for all drug dealers”.

You can report any concerns by calling 101 or visiting the Gloucestershire Constabulary website. Alternatively, you can report information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website.