Snitch on a drug dealer

Gangs changing their approach during lockdown

Devon & Cornwall Police want people to help spot the signs of what they call 'county lines' - urban drug dealers who ply their trade over police force borders. They often exploit children or vulnerable adults to move and store drugs and will often use coercion.

Since lockdown, police say such dealers have changed the way they operate. 

Previously, dealers used dedicated mobile phone lines take orders for drugs. Their runners, who are often, young and/or vulnerable people), transported and collected payment.  With lockdown, gangs have adapting their operations. 

Detective Superintendent Edward Wright from Devon & Cornwall police said: “We already know a lot about their activities and how they have changed their operations but we always want to know more and help from the public is invaluable.  Therefore, we are asking members of the public to tell us if they have seen anything suspicious or have concerns about people within their community.  

“Devon and Cornwall are two of the safest places in the country to live. Any information from the public will help us further restrict and disrupt the deal lines, prosecute those organising the activity, safeguard vulnerable victims caught up in the networks and continue to keep our communities safe. 

“So if you see anything suspicious in your neighbourhood, such as unknown characters or lots of comings and goings from houses, then please report this using our online contact channels: dc.police.uk/contact.  Alternatively you can call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report online: crimestoppers-uk.org.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Alison Hernandez said: “Taking drugs off our street is a priority for all of us. The force is proactive in capturing ‘county lines’ gangs and over 400 years of jail-time handed down to those that have been caught.

“This proactive work is one of the reasons Devon and Cornwall was recently recognised as the second lowest recorded crime area in the country. Let’s stamp out the crimes that are happening in our communities by spotting and reporting them so they can be tackled.

Devon & Cornwall police have carried out 194 ‘disruptions’ in the past year against 'county lines' groups, leading to the conviction of 21 people (who received sentences totalling over 24 years imprisonment) and the safeguarding of over 250 vulnerable children and adults.”

For more information about 'county lines' supply and what to look out for, visit www.dc.police.uk