British Transport Police (BTP) who coordinates the County Lines Taskforce, saw BTP officers joining forces with regional police officers to obstruct County Lines activity. The operation which ran from for seven days from 11th to 17th October was part of a national week of enhanced action.

Large amounts of drugs were seized, and interventions took place to safeguard vulnerable people.

Officers, some in uniform and some plain clothed, worked at key station and train routes throughout the UK. They worked with drug dogs and metal detection arches to remove dangerous weapons and harmful drugs from the railway and their communities.

Over the week, 88 operations took place, which led to 41 people being arrested, and seizing £50K in cash, 52 amounts of drugs, 43 phones and 32 weapons from the railway.

14 vulnerable children and adults were also safeguarded, a cuckooed address was visited and a mobile used to selling drugs was seized.

A County Lines operation also ran in 2019 in Wales.

British Transport Police (BTP) County Lines Taskforce was set up in December 2019 with Home Office funding to tackle organised criminals who use the railway to deliver drugs.

Their primary aim is to recognise and safeguard the vulnerable children and adults being used to move cash and drugs between locations. Since their set up they have made over 1,500 arrests and seized nearly 1,000 lots of drugs as well as making referrals for safeguarding and made charges under the Modern Slavery Act.

Detective Superintendent Gareth Williams, BTP’s County Lines Taskforce lead, said: “These results are testament to the dedicated work of my team in partnership with our police colleagues and reminds criminals that the railway is not a viable option to move drugs, or indeed exploited persons, between locations.”

“Drugs they distribute into communities ruin lives and we are continually developing and sharing our intelligence picture, to vary our tactics and dismantle their criminal operations.”

“This coordinated week provided us with the opportunity to shine a light on our proactive operational work and also highlight the ‘Look Closer’ campaign, which we developed alongside The Children’s Society.”

“It aims to raise awareness of child exploitation and encourages rail staff and the public to spot the signs that a person is being exploited and to always report their concerns to us.”

“If you spot the signs of someone being exploited on the railway, text us on 61016. No report is too small or trivial – we will always take you seriously.”

James Simmonds-Read, National Programme Manager at The Children’s Society’s Prevention programme, said: “Predators groom children with offers of cash, gifts, drugs and alcohol, friendship and status – then use terrifying threats and violence to exploit them to carry drugs in ‘county lines’ operations or for sexual or labour exploitation.”

“Young people may not ask for help because they have been manipulated into thinking they are making a choice or because they are too scared to speak out. We must not hold children responsible for preventing their own exploitation but should instead work together as a society to prevent it from happening to them.”

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