New County Lines Policing Strategy
On July 9, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), in conjunction with the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), announced the launch of the new 3-year Disrupting County Lines Policing Strategy.
This latest strategy aims to intensify efforts in combating County Lines, the term used to describe the networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into various areas within the UK using dedicated mobile phone lines.
Objectives of the Strategy
The newly launched strategy focuses on four primary goals:
- Prevention: Discourage individuals from engaging in County Lines activities, which are often associated with violence and exploitation.
- Safeguarding: Proactively protect children and vulnerable adults from harm.
- Community Resilience: Strengthen community resilience against the harms associated with County Lines.
- Pursuit: Relentlessly pursue offenders, including Organized Criminal Groups, Urban Street Gangs, and individuals running County Lines.
Achievements Since 2019
The strategy builds on the successes achieved since the Home Office County Lines program launched in 2019. Key accomplishments include:
- Closure of 5,627 County Lines.
- Arrest of 16,536 individuals.
- Referral of 8,817 individuals to safeguarding by the police.
- A reduction in the number of County Lines from exporter forces and fewer children involved in these activities.
- Introduction of the NCLCC Power App for Law Enforcement, a central resource for County Lines knowledge and practitioner guidance.
During the latest County Lines Intensification Week in March 2024, coordinated by the NPCC and led by NCLCC, significant outcomes included:
- Over 1,800 arrests.
- Seizure of over £2.5 million worth of Class A and Class B drugs.
- Confiscation of 660 weapons, including 96 firearms and 466 bladed weapons.
- Seizure of £1.8 million in cash.
- Active safeguarding of over 1,600 individuals.
Strategic Objective
Commander Paul Brogden, NPCC lead for County Lines, emphasized the significant advancements in tackling County Lines and the criminal networks operating across England, Scotland, and Wales. He highlighted the importance of continued collaboration across police forces to disrupt and dismantle these networks while safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
The New Three-Year Strategy
The new three-year strategy outlines the national plan for police forces to continue their efforts in disrupting and dismantling County Lines from 2024 to 2027. It aims to:
- Prevent the involvement in county lines and associated exploitation and violence.
- Safeguard vulnerable individuals.
- Prepare communities to build resilience against County Lines.
- Relentlessly pursue offenders.
Key Steps to Tackling County Lines
The strategy promotes a prevention-first approach, targeting resources to areas of most need and providing early intervention opportunities to reduce the risk for children vulnerable to grooming, criminal exploitation and sexual exploitation. It emphasizes:
- Community-led neighbourhood policing.
- Disrupting drug supply and County Lines as a national strategic policing priority.
- Consistent identification and response to exploitation.
- Collaboration across force boundaries and with Regional Organized Crime Units (ROCUs).
- Continued investment in the Home Office County Lines program.
Measuring Success
The strategy sets an ambitious target to close an additional 1,000 County Lines by August 2024. Key metrics for measuring progress include:
- Number of Line Closures.
- Number of Arrests and Charges.
- Number of individuals referred to statutory safeguarding partners and specialist support provision.
- Continued monitoring of the intelligence picture through the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) strategic assessments.
Conclusion
The Disrupting County Lines Policing Strategy 2024 to 2027 represents a comprehensive plan to combat the County Lines drug supply business model. By focusing on prevention, safeguarding, community resilience, and relentless pursuit of offenders, the strategy aims to significantly reduce the associated harms, including violence and exploitation, and build a safer future for communities across the UK.
Sara Spinks
SSS Author & Former Headteacher
