Keeping the young & vulnerable safe from drug gangs

We are offering ways to help identify those who are at risk of being exploited and groomed into a life of drug dealing, along with the associated risks in Buxton, Derbyshire in a new campaign.

Buxton, at the heart of the Peak District, has been highlighted as a key area of concern for exploitation by County Lines drug gangs, as it is very close to and has main routes through to larger metropolitan areas.  

The campaign warns that organised criminal gangs are targeting young and vulnerable people, leading to them being trafficked, groomed, and exploited into selling and running drugs locally. 

Once trust has been gained and a lifestyle of luxury has been sold, loyalty is put to the test. It starts with the young person being asked for favours, with the gang offering a sense of family and a sense of protection. This can lead to them being exploited by becoming trapped through fear, debt bondage, trafficking, isolation from family and friends and physical, psychological and sexual abuse.

The person being exploited often does not realise that they are victims or that they have been groomed. They are offered gifts of money, clothes and food and feel loyal to those grooming them, in return for couriering illegal drugs and money across cities, towns and villages, known as ‘County Lines’. 

Those that are buying illegal drugs are funding the lifestyle of organised criminal gangs who are trafficking vulnerable and exploited people to sell the drugs.  

Anybody can get caught up in illegal, harmful drug activity. Signs to spot that something may not be right include:

• Changes in the way young people you know might dress and unexplained, sometimes unaffordable, new clothes, jewellery, phones, cars etc
• Access to multiple phones/receiving excess phone calls or texts
• You witness them dealing drugs.

Criminals can take over a home or short term let as a drugs base, this is known as ‘Cuckooing’. Signs of this can include:

• Regular short stay visitors 
• Residents or young people going missing, maybe for long periods of time
• Curtains often always closed during the day
• A change of resident's mood/demeanour (e.g. secretive/withdrawn/aggressive/ emotional)
• Unusual frequency of take away food 
• Increase in rubbish/drug paraphernalia.

Any suspicions about serious violence, organised drug gangs and weapons can be passed to Crimestoppers 100% anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 at any time or by completing our secure online form. Alternatively, young people can visit Fearless.org where more can be learnt about the warning signs of County Lines activity. 
 

“We know that County Lines drug gangs are luring young and vulnerable people into getting involved by gaining their trust, only to trap them into a lifestyle of exploitation through violence, abuse, blackmail and debt bondage. 

“These gangs are expanding their networks quickly, with the levels of violence and exploitation also increasing. This campaign will remind people that we can all play our part in stopping organised crime and keeping people safe.

“We are asking people to remain vigilant to the signs of grooming and we are appealing to everyone to help protect vulnerable members in our community from County Lines activity by telling Crimestoppers anonymously what you know.”
 
Lydia Patsalides, Crimestoppers East Midlands Regional Manager

No-one will ever know you contacted Crimestoppers. With Fearless.org and Crimestoppers-uk.org, computer IP addresses are never traced. For telephone calls to our UK Contact Centre, there is no caller line display and no 1471 facility. You will stay 100% anonymous. Always. 

Find out more information on County Lines.