The dark alley where kids learn about ‘County Lines’ drugs gangs in safety

There is a place in Gloucester – a stereotypically dark alley - which is used for the distribution of ‘suspicious packages’. In charge of this undoubtedly nefarious operation is a boy called Sam. Sam is charismatic and welcoming as a spider, until he has lured his unsuspecting victim into his web and persuaded them to do his evil bidding. That is when he becomes someone more sinister and threatening.

It is a classic ‘sting’ where vulnerable youngsters are trapped into becoming couriers for ruthless drugs gangs. The police know all about this place, and yet they are doing nothing about it!

That is because it isn’t real. This ‘dark alley’ is in the ‘Skillzone’, an educational facility housed in the fire station in Lower Tuffley, Gloucester. The newly created ‘County Lines Alleyway’ is one of a number of real-life scenarios where young people can learn how to keep themselves safe whether at home or within their community.

It is also the first of its kind in the South West to target the growing threat to vulnerable youngsters of being enlisted by organised crime gangs to deliver drugs across county borders. Not only does the ‘educator’ in this scenario speak with the benefit of experience, it is also with regret there was nothing like it during his formative years.

Lewis Whitter is employed by Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service as its Serious Violence Project and Evaluation Lead. Perhaps more important, he is the kind of ‘cool dude’ young people would immediately be drawn to and take notice of.

“I grew up in Gloucester. I was born in Gloucester and so was heavily influenced by culture, by county lines, drugs, violence and youth violence. This is something I didn’t understand when I was a young person. How that would affect me going forward”, he said.

“When I was a teen, I was involved in county lines and involved in knife crime. I wouldn’t say I was a perpetrator nor a victim, just a witness. And that kind of spring-boarded me into the career path I’ve taken.

“I never had any education based around county lines or knife crime. All the education I would have received would have been from perpetrators of county lines, perpetrators of knife crime.

“I think it [Skillzone] would have allowed me to take a step back. It would have allowed me to have a look at my social dynamic, my friends, my family and who I placed myself around.

“To actually have a message like this, in a professional setting which is safe, I think would have lead me to take much safer options in my life and to take a step back. Compared to getting involved in some of the situations I was”.

Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson, who funds Skillzone’s county lines alleyway through the Government’s Serious Violence Duty, said: “Right across Gloucestershire and the wider south west, the public are fed-up with the criminality and exploitation that illegal drugs bring to our communities.

 “There is overwhelming support for the tough stance we take in the south west, by working together across our borders, to get drugs and dealers off our streets. But we must do more to educate the young and vulnerable, to keep them safe from the influence of these evil gangs.

“I hope as many schools, colleges and other learning establishments will take advantage of this excellent facility”.