PERHAPS the most horrific phenomenon in organised crime is one of which few people are aware. Although “county lines” has gained traction in the media over the past couple of years, many have no clue about this widespread, sophisticated method of dealing drugs right across the country, and the effects it has on small- to medium-sized towns, like Barrow.

County lines involves the use of a branded phone line by an individual or group based in a metropolitan centre. The group will take orders for drugs, commonly crack cocaine or heroin. They then send children and vulnerable adults into coastal and rural towns in order to ferry drugs and cash to and from these areas. Let us make no mistake, this is slavery. These vulnerable people cannot consent; they are manipulated and abused through circumstances beyond their control. Some of those recruited to sell drugs are as young as twelve years old. What is perhaps most reprehensible is the fact that, many of those coerced or enslaved into ferrying drugs and money on these dealers’ behalf find themselves to be prosecuted for drug-related offenses. These people are victims. To prosecute them for something they did not and cannot consent to is a heinous injustice. In Barrow alone, between December 2017 and April 2018, twelve people died as a result of drug use. The government launched an awareness campaign last year to help educate the public on how to identify victims of county lines, and I applaud this - as I say many people have never heard of county lines. Yet whilst awareness is important, so too is direct action.

This government has not done enough to deal with county lines. They donated £300,000 to charities to help rehabilitate those vulnerable people exploited by county lines groups. Fantastic. But not enough when you take into account the massive police cuts, resulting in the loss of 20,000 police officers across England and Wales. We simply cannot protect the most vulnerable people within society with an ailing police force that is ill-equipped to deal with an issue of such colossal scale as county lines. The NCA report gives a conservative estimate, stating that at a minimum there are over 790 active county lines, with over 4,000 children and vulnerable people exploited.

But I have hope. Next week, I will be hosting ministers, law enforcement officials, MPs, and representatives from NGOs in a seminar. I believe this will start a real debate about how we can tackle the issue. I am incredibly grateful for the support of Nick Hurd, minister for policing and the fire services, who has agreed to attend the event. This shows a genuine commitment and I sincerely hope it will help bring about a change in policy.

As a society, we all have our own role to play to bring an end to county lines. We must all be aware of the issue, and try to identify those most in need to prevent from being exploited for nefarious purposes. The government, and elected officials, need to create and debate meaningful policy to help eradicate the issue. Our justice system must be willing to understand the circumstances of those forced to commit a crime. If, and only if, we all do our part, will we be able to bring an end to county lines.