Huge blow for UK gangs as 1,660 arrested and £3m of medication seized | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Ruthless medicine gangs that exploit susceptible youngsters are the goal of a crackdown which has seen legal operations shattered.

Experts warn of a “crisis” with organised crime gangs usually utilizing youngsters to move medicine with typically devastating penalties.

Dealers working “county lines” operations distribute medicine to different areas of the nation utilizing devoted cell phone numbers.

The newest figures present that between July and September police succeeded in closing 410 county traces – with 557 folks arrested.

More than 800 “vulnerable people” have been referred for safeguarding since July. Over 200 youngsters and younger folks have accessed the county traces specialist help service.

The Home Office considers county traces “one of the most violent models of drug supply”.

Around 14,000 youngsters have been recognized as in danger or concerned in little one legal exploitation in 2022-23. But this regarded as a “significant underestimate on the scale of the problem”.

Dame Diana Johnson, the policing minister, stated: “County lines are run by heartless criminals, who exploit young people and ruin their lives. I want to thank all the police officers who are dedicating their lives to stopping these criminals from bringing dangerous drugs to our streets and exploiting children for their personal gain.

“That is why we have dedicated millions in funding to focus on stopping serious organised crime and have committed to introducing a new offence to tackle child criminal exploitation, as we work to deliver our plan for change with safer streets.”

In a blow for the drug commerce, final month in a single week throughout England and Wales an extra 1,660 folks have been arrested, 557 weapons have been seized and greater than £3million value of Class A and B medicine have been seized.

A spokesman for the Children’s Society pressed for motion to make sure criminals are held to account.

He stated: “The exploitation of children through organised crime, such as county lines, is a crisis that demands urgent attention. This abuse not only devastates young lives but also damages their mental and physical health as well as their ability to form healthy relationships.

“The Children’s Society is calling on the Government to prioritise early intervention to reduce the risk of exploitation. However, the real focus must be on the perpetrators.

“We urgently need a statutory definition of child criminal exploitation to make sure that criminals are held accountable and that victims receive the trauma informed support they desperately need.”