Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has praised officers for their work in disrupting County Lines activity in Rutland.
Working off intelligence from partner agencies, neighbouring counties and the wider community, officers have made several arrests in the county and have also seized six vehicles since the start of the year.
County Lines is a form of criminal activity in which drug dealers establish networks for the supply and sale of drugs in towns and rural areas, often using young or vulnerable people as couriers to carry, store and sell the drugs.
The seizure of courier vehicles significantly disrupts the operation and also helps to deter drug gangs from carrying out their crimes in the county.
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has prioritised tackling drug crime and more specifically County Lines in his Police and Crime Plan under his Urban Policing promise.
Mr Matthews said: “I’m impressed with the proactive work taking place to disrupt the supply of drugs into Rutland. These activities are well-planned and are co-ordinated between multiple partners to ensure the county remains a hostile place for drug criminals. They send a clear message to serious and organised criminals that there is no place for drugs in our communities and importantly, nowhere to hide.
“The officers engaged in this work know and understand how these criminals operate and invest long hours into gathering evidence and bringing them to justice. They have also formed strong relationships with partner agencies and services to identify and protect potential victims of County Lines activities. The arrests and vehicle seizures made by the team are testament to the strong partnership work underway.
“I also want to thank the public and our communities for their willingness to share critical information that makes many of these operations possible. Please continue to come forward to report suspicious activity, it really does make a difference and can help to prevent and safeguard victims of exploitation. Any information, no matter how insignificant, is gratefully received via the force website, 101, Crimestoppers or by speaking to local officers directly.”
In recent months, a number of people have been arrested in Rutland following the execution of intelligence-led warrants and released on police bail to remain out of the county while enquiries continue.
Enforcement activity is conducted regularly and officers patrol, respond and disrupt based on the excellent intelligence picture that is maintained between cross-county partners. There is also a regular schedule of personal visits to addresses known or believed to be vulnerable to exploitation or cuckooing (the practice of taking over the home of a vulnerable person in order to establish a base for illegal drug dealing).
