Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board is supporting National Safeguarding Adults Week around the exploitation of county lines by criminal.

The term "County Lines" is used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs to areas in the UK using a dedicated mobile phone line.   

The National County Lines Co-ordination Centre has produced a short 10 minute video which describes how County Lines work and explores how this can impact on children, vulnerable adults and wider society. 

The video also identifies how you can play your part in identifying and reporting. 

County lines describes an organised crime group (OCG) which traffics drugs using dedicated mobile phone lines.

County lines drug dealing is an issue that agencies across the UK, including here in Cumbria, are continuously working on to protect communities.

Temporary Detective Superintendent Dave Cooper, Cumbria Constabulary’s Crime Command, said: “We work all-year round to tackle county line by enforcement but also, together with our community partners through engagement, prevention, and diversion.

“We are committed to dismantling these criminal networks and to protecting the young and vulnerable people who are exploited by gangs and are subject to violence, fear, and intimidation.

“County lines is exploitative drug supply and is devastating to local communities, well beyond those who are directly involved in the local drugs scene.

“Information from people in our communities can play a crucial role in our efforts to identify county line activity and safeguard vulnerable people who are being exploited or are at risk.

“The fact file we have provided includes helpful information and signs to look out for. Please consider this and if you do see something that does not feel right, please get in touch so we can investigate.

“We have a track record of putting such crime groups before the courts and the subsequent significant sentences have seen many lines and set-ups dismantled or disrupted.”