Arrests and seizures made in County Lines week of action

As part of a national week of action, last week (23 – 29 June) North Yorkshire Police took part in County Lines Intensification week focussing on disrupting and dismantling drugs lines.  

In total, officers executed six warrants, made five arrests, visited 36 properties for safeguarding and seized blocks of what is suspected to be class – A drugs.

County Lines is the name given to drug dealing where organised crime gangs use lines and vulnerable people to move drugs from usually bigger cities to small communities. Serious violence goes hand in hand with drugs supply and last week’s week of action focussed on knife crime. Various educational inputs were made in numerous schools encouraging young people to think about the consequences of taking drugs and carrying weapons.  

A key part of the week was focussing on ways to safeguard vulnerable people from exploitation. Officers made 36 address checks at homes where people may have been subjected to home invasion, commonly described as cuckooing. This is a practice where people take over a person's home and use the property to facilitate exploitation.

On the frontline, various teams took robust action against individuals who are believed to be involved in the supply of drugs within North Yorkshire. Various warrants were executed in Scarborough, Selby, Richmond and Harrogate.

Detective Superintendent Fionna McEwan from North Yorkshire Police said: “Even though North Yorkshire remains one of the safest places in the country we still have gangs that are associated with drugs supply that target young and vulnerable people who live here.  

“Our work during this latest intensification week mirrors what we do week in week out. I want to thank the fantastic Partners we work with every day who help build intelligence, educate young people, protect those people who are being exploited, and target the offenders running these lines. It is the strength of the partnership that makes the difference.”

“To help us, we need the public to remain on our side by continuing to report suspicious activity to us. If you see anything suspicious, please get in touch with us, the information maybe the missing piece of the jigsaw that helps us to further protect our communities”.

Support Services

If you are a young person who is worried about being involved in county lines, or knows someone who is, you can speak to an adult and let them know how you feel.

You can also contact www.fearless.org   who allow you to pass on information about crime anonymously.

You can also contact Childline on 0800 1111 – they are a private and confidential service where you can talk to counsellors about anything that is worrying you.

Get help for drug addiction

North Yorkshire Rise – young people's specialist drug and alcohol service- freephone 08000 14 14 80 (option 2).

North Yorkshire Horizons - adult specialist drug and alcohol service - freephone 08000 14 14 80 – nyhorizons.org.uk

York Drug and Alcohol Service – specialist support for adults and young people - 01904 464 680 - https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/find-support/york-drug-and-alcohol-services

For details on the range of sources of support in York, including York in Recovery, please see: https://www.livewellyork.co.uk/information-and-advice/health-and-wellbeing/help-for-drugs-and-alcohol-use/

DRUGFAM – Support for people affected by other people’s drug or alcohol misuse – 0300 888 3853 https://drugfam.co.uk/#