Current timestamp: 27/03/2023 08:35:02
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal ActivityLoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitterTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

btp-header-logo-bilingual

Search this website

Main navigation menu

  • Report

    Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences
    • Road traffic incident
    • Report antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud
    • Civil disputes
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
  • Tell us about

    Back to Tell us about

    • Tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • An existing case or report
    • Filming
  • Apply or register

    Back to Apply or register

    • Careers
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Request

    Back to Request

    • Intellectual property (IP) licence
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
  • Thanks and complaints

    Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Complaints
    • Say thanks
    • Feedback about the website
  • Local teams

    Back to Local teams

    • South West England
    • Wales
    • Midlands
    • Pennines
    • London
    • South of England
    • Scotland

Breadcrumb

  1. ...
  2. News

Drugs and weapons seized in nationwide County Lines clampdown

Main article content

Navigation

England
Scotland
Wales

14:22 27/05/2021

British Transport Police (BTP) joined UK police forces in a week-long clampdown on County Lines activity across the railway.

Uniformed and plain-clothed officers from its dedicated County Lines Taskforce, alongside specialist drugs dogs, deployed on 94 operations – 46 of which were joint with other police forces.

The operations took place across train routes and stations and spanned the entirety of the UK – from as far south as Plymouth, and as far north as Aberdeen.

Over the seven-day period, the Taskforce visited 20 cuckooed addresses, identified nine vulnerable people, including eight under 18s, and made 37 arrests.

They also seized 15 lots of drugs, £6,200 in illicit cash, eight weapons, 42 phones and identified two drug lines.

BTP’s County Lines Taskforce – setup with Home Office funding in 2019 – is a police team devoted to tackling organised criminals using the railway to transport drugs.

A key aim of the team is to identify and safeguard vulnerable children and adults often exploited by these organised criminals to transport drugs and cash between import and export locations, which can be hundreds of miles apart.

BTP County Lines Taskforce lead, Detective Superintendent Gareth Williams, said: “The exemplary results from this week of enhanced efforts are just a snippet of the work our dedicated Taskforce carries out year-round to disrupt County Lines activity.

“Our operational deployments are unpredictable and intelligence-led – we will tackle this type of activity alongside our policing partners wherever it occurs.

“Working closely with other forces on these operations is critical to crackdown on this crime type and make the railway a hostile environment for organised criminals to move drugs and illicit cash across the country.

 “Most importantly, nine vulnerable children and adults encountered by our officers over this seven-day period were identified on the network.

“Alongside The Children's Society, we’re encouraging everyone to look closer for the signs of child criminal exploitation on the railway, and report any concerns to us.

“These children are victims – exploited by organised criminals to move commodities between locations across the UK.

“If you have any concerns, text us on 61016 or call us on 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency, always dial 999.”

James Simmonds-Read, National Programme Manager at The Children’s Society, said: “While lockdown meant children being exploited were often hidden from the view of professionals and the public, the easing of restrictions means there are now more opportunities for us all to spot the warning signs.”

“It’s vital people look beyond the obvious because exploited children may not always appear upset or vulnerable or behave in the way we would expect victims to. We know trauma may cause them to appear angry or aggressive and they are often manipulated into thinking they are making a choice.

“Through our Look Closer campaign, we are urging anyone who encounters children in their daily lives - from morning commuters and delivery drivers to hotel and shop staff – to report any concerns that a child might be being exploited to the police.

“Contacting the police with concerns about a child could be a crucial first step in helping a child escape a situation of horrific abuse and unimaginable trauma.”

Manchester 2.jpg

Counterfit money.jpg

Share

Is there a problem with this page?

Footer navigation

We use cookies on this site to give you a better, more personalised experience.

I'm fine with cookies I'd like to manage the cookies

British Transport Police

  • Contact us
  • Find a police station
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Local teams
  • Campaigns
  • News
  • Press and media
  • Privacy Notice
  • Accessibility
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention advice
  • Accessing information
  • Stats and data
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Feedback

Partners

  • British Transport Police Authority
  • Train Operating Company reporting

Languages

  • Cymraeg

Follow us on

© Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.