Over 40 arrests made in week-long crackdown on county lines in Norfolk and Suffolk

Norfolk and Suffolk Police both took part in the week of action.

Author: Abi SimpsonPublished 28th May 2021

Over 40 arrests were made by Norfolk and Suffolk Police who both took part in a week of action tackling county lines drug dealing last week.

In Norfolk, 14 people were arrested, with four since charged for drug-supply offences.

29 arrests were made in Suffolk as part of a similar week of action.

The national crackdown was run jointly by the National Police Chiefs Council and the National Crime Agency, and it was focused on disrupting the activities of those involved in county lines.

In Suffolk over £12k in cash and 10 weapons were seized by officers.

Welfare and safeguarding checks were carried and officers also visited schools to deliver presentations about the dangers of drug use.

Detective Inspector Robin Windsor-Waite, County Lines Team lead for Norfolk Constabulary, said: "Our action last week is further evidence of the Constabulary's commitment to tackling county lines.

"Our focus on County Lines is not limited to national intensification weeks; we have a team of specialist officers working around the clock monitoring county lines activity and tracking-down the individuals who control the lines".

Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk Tim Passmore said: "I applaud the continued focus of the Constabulary in stamping out serious and organised criminal activity in the county, this week of action shows this determination is paying dividends.

"I have been hugely impressed by the work of the relatively new Sentinel teams whose sole purpose is to focus on these most serious criminals and rid our county of these lawless individuals.

"Such people do enormous harm to our communities and catching them and prosecuting them is exactly what the public wants.

"My own role as commissioner of services to support victims plays an important part in making sure vulnerable victims of county lines crimes are appropriately cared for and I will do all I can to ensure this important work continues.

"This week of action has highlighted the good work being carried out by the Constabulary and I'd like to say well done to all involved."

What is a county line?

County Lines is the name given to a drug dealing model which involves criminals using phone lines to facilitate the supply of Class A drugs, normally between a major city and another county.

The line holder often exploits young people and children to move the drugs between counties, or coerce vulnerable adults by taking over their addresses from where they then deal drugs - that's known as cuckooing.

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