Police in Cumbria made 14 arrests and executed nearly 20 search warrants in a week-long intensification of work to tackle county lines drugs crime.
Heroin, cocaine and cannabis were seized – along with weapons and almost £50,000 in cash suspected to have been made illegally.
Other arrests were made following individual investigations and patrols as those officers taking part spotted other offences as they came across them.
County lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised networks involved in exporting drugs into other areas, using dedicated mobile phone lines.
Results included:
- The seizure of cannabis, gold valued at nearly £3,500 and about £22,500 cash following a warrant executed in Whitehaven. One man was arrested.
- A warrant executed at Stramongate, Kendal. This led to the arrest and subsequent charge of a man with offences including possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, as well as breach of a sexual risk order. Seizures were made of £7,045 in cash, cocaine, cannabis, an off road E- bike and 19 pairs of Nike Air Max trainers still in their boxes.
- Seizure of an air rifle, cocaine, cannabis and cash from a property in Tay Court, Barrow. One man was arrested.
- A man arrested in Carlisle on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. A quantity of heroin was seized.
- The seizure of £8,000 cash, cocaine and a zombie knife following the execution of a warrant at James Street, Barrow.
- A man arrested in the Grange-over-Sands area on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. This followed the execution of a warrant.
- A man charged with being concerned in the supply of class A drugs following a warrant at Manchester Street, Barrow.
- Cash, cannabis and other items seized in Marks Avenue, Carlisle. One man was arrested.
- The seizure of a baton-style metal pole with a fixed blade following an arrest in Workington.
Detective Inspector Sam Johnson said: “County lines drugs crime brings misery to communities in the form of drug dealing and violence.
“Our officers work all-year-round to tackle this threat and protect those potentially being exploited.
“With this intensification period, we stepped up our work even further in a focussed week-long effort to disrupt and dismantle these groups.
“At the heart of the county lines model is the exploitation of vulnerable people – and sometimes children.
“That is why as well as relentlessly pursuing those involved, we also have a prevention-first approach to stopping this type of offending in the first place.
“Our officers and staff work to stop people being drawn in to protect them and safeguard them from harm.”
Prevention work
Prevention work includes raising awareness and educating people about the risks involved in county lines and the signs it is happening.
The county’s 1CLIC initiative provides help to the people most in need, showing them that support is available to turn away from drugs.
Work carried out during the week by the 1CLIC team included:
- A number of visits made to vulnerable people across the county, with referrals made for support with substance misuse and housing.
- There were leaflet drops asking for community intelligence across the county.
- Visits were made to give advice on how to look for the signs of county lines at a range of shops and businesses in Workington and Whitehaven.
- Partnership work was carried out with the Children’s Society and Well Communities, which supports people recovering from addiction.
- Educational inputs in Furness, as well as lived experience inputs.
Det Insp Johnson said: “Our 1CLIC team work tirelessly year-round to prevent county lines offending in our communities and to target those vulnerable to county lines exploitation.
“1CLIC is a partnership, funded by the Office of the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, between Cumbria Constabulary and The Well Communities.
“This includes joint working alongside lived experience staff from the Well Communities in order to conduct vulnerability visits, putting support in place. 1CLIC offers education and training to partners, education establishments and community groups to raise awareness of how to spot the signs."
Det Insp Johnson added: “Our communities are always crucial in helping us tackle crime in their neighbourhoods and streets – so we continue to urge anyone with any information to come forward.”
Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen said: "I am delighted with the results of this operation; I promised that we'd take a zero-tolerance to drugs in our communities, and this is exactly the high impact sort of work that I want to see your police force doing.
"I have seen first-hand the misery and damage that drugs cause. They destroy families' lives and can, if left unchecked, blight entire communities.
"I will continue to do everything I can as PFCC to ensure that the Constabulary continue to stamp out drugs in every corner of Cumbria.
"I would ask residents to continue reporting any knowledge of drugs to the police. If the police have the evidence, they will act on it.
"My office will continue to fund action against drug dealing but also in preventative work through partners such as 1CLIC (County Lines Informed Cumbria) who engage with vulnerable members of the community, building up a rapport with hard-to-reach individuals and stopping vulnerable individuals falling down the wrong path, helping people to turn their lives around.
"Let me be very clear here: There is no safe place for drug dealers and peddlers of misery in Cumbria. You have my promise - you will be found, and you will be punished."
What are the signs someone – including a young person or child - has become mixed up in county lines?
These could include:
- Travelling alone, frequently, particularly in school hours or late at night.
- Looking lost or in unfamiliar surroundings.
- Appearing anxious, frightened, angry or displaying other behaviour that makes you worried about them.
- Being in possession of more than one phone.
- Carrying lots of cash.
- Unexplained new items – including expensive trainers, mobile phones, jewellery or clothes.
- Periods of going missing.
Do you have information that can help us?
Anyone with information can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it
You can also phone on 101.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.