Lincolnshire and Newark getting share of £780m to tackle drugs and prevent crime
It's the largest ever drug treatment funding boost of it's kind
It's hoped a share of £780m will help tackle drugs and stamp down on crime in Lincolnshire and Newark.
The Government cash is the largest ever drug treatment funding boost of it's kind.
The money will go towards improving access to treatment and increasing the capacity of services.
£300m is also going into breaking-up county lines gangs.
These see criminals exploit children into peddling drugs.
We've spoken to a woman whose son was groomed when he was just 14, he's now in jail for murder after a drug-drop-off turned into a stabbing. She's been voiced by an actor.
"He started getting arrested for possession of class A drugs, to my horror.
"I remember going to the police station with him, and he just broke down and said to me, 'look, I’m in a gang, I don’t know what to do, I don’t know how to get out Mum.'
I was just like, 'oh, don’t be ridiculous, who are these people, just tell them you don’t want to work with them anymore'
He was like, 'it’s not as simple as that Mum, it really, really isn’t, you don’t understand these people have got guns, they’re serious people Mum.'
As soon as he got his phone back, they were straight on to him, 'yo, where are you, we’re coming to get you,' and I could see the fear in his face and he just said, 'Mum, I’ve got no choice, I’m just going to go back to work.'"
She said things got worse when he started carrying a knife.
"It was all coming to a head and I knew something bad was going to happen.
"I got a phone call to say he’d been stabbed, so I immediately thought the worst, rushed to the hospital, and he’d been stabbed in the arm.
"It turned out it was a drug-drop off and a man died, my son was there and it was a joint enterprise, and he was given a life sentence.
"I just couldn’t believe it. It was awful that this poor man was killed, and my son was involved in it.
"I’m lucky my son’s still alive, but I’ve still lost him. I’m not going to see him pass his driving test, have children when he should.
"His grandparents will never see him again, because they’re quite old and they can’t get to the prison."
What if I'm worried about a young person?
- People should report any concerns to the police on 101.
- If on a train text British Transport Police on 61016.
- Dial 999 if there is an immediate risk to a child.
- Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously online or call their helpline on 0800 555111.
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