Clampdown on County Lines dealers leads to 2,000 arrests and 800 children safeguarded
County Lines drug dealers were on the receiving end of a police clampdown that led to over 2,000 arrests, 335 lines shut down and almost 800 children safeguarded.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary carried out its week of targeted enforcement and safeguarding activity as part of the national County Lines Intensification Week (2–8 March).
The operation achieved 10 county lines disrupted, 21 deal phones seized, 16 warrants, 71 arrests and 155 safeguarding interventions involving vulnerable and young people. There were also 50 stop and searches, major seizures of Class A and B drugs, weapons and cash.
In the eastern area of the county – including Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport, Havant and East Hants - police reported success.
Officers in Portsmouth carried out targeted patrols, stop searches and warrants. These resulted in the recovery of Class A drugs concealed in an ironing board, cash hidden in a pillowcase, multiple phones, weapons and a deals list after a group was stopped and detained.
There were also arrests following proactive stops which located multiple wraps of cocaine, cash, and disqualified drivers involved in suspected supply activity.
And there was the recovery of 40 bags of suspected Class A drugs, a deal list and cash during the stop of an erratic moped rider, who was arrested for being concerned in the supply of Class A.
The successful operation was achieved through close partnership working with Border Force, MET Police and local policing teams.
County Lines describes organised criminal networks that move illegal drugs between areas using dedicated phone lines, often relying on violence, exploitation and the coercion of vulnerable people, including children, to run their operations.
Led by the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), forces and regional organised crime units joined together. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has a dedicated team to pursue and tackle the threat, harm and risk brought into communities by county lines criminality called Op Monument.
Detective sergeant Mark Brockman, from the Op Monument team, said: “Officers have delivered outstanding results across the whole of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Thanks to the dedication of our teams and our strong partnerships with regional and national teams, we have disrupted dangerous criminal networks, safeguarded vulnerable people, and removed harmful drugs and dangerous weapons from our communities.
“County Lines activity causes immense damage to individuals, families and neighbourhoods. We will continue to relentlessly pursue offenders while working with partners to protect those exploited by these gangs.”
The operation also focused heavily on missing children, exploitation prevention, and building community resilience against County Lines harm.
James Simmonds-Read, national programme manager at The Children’s Society, said: “Thousands of children go missing every year, and every hour they are away increases their risk of sexual abuse, violence and criminal exploitation, such as county lines.
“Too often missing children are being failed – their return home seen as the end of the ordeal rather than a chance to understand what led them to go missing and how they might be at risk of exploitation. These underlying reasons must then be tackled with ongoing, tailored support to stop them going missing again.
“County Lines Intensification Week is an opportunity, not only to disrupt ongoing exploitation but also to identify young victims and protect them from future harm.”
Detective Chief Inspector Shula Williamson, who is the force tactical drug related harm lead, said: “This week of action shows our commitment to tackling County Lines and protecting the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
“We will continue to relentlessly target those who exploit vulnerable people and bring harmful drugs into our communities, while working with partners to safeguard those at risk.
“Members of the public are encouraged to report concerns about drug exploitation or suspicious activity via 101, online, or 999 in an emergency. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”