ESSEX detectives brought together experts in the field of county lines exploitation and modern day slavery to sharpen their focus on “one of the most pressing issues of our time”.
A spokesperson said: “So far this year, our Serious Violence Unit has arrested more than 300 people and charged more than 230 in connection with county lines activity.
But we’ve also demonstrated our commitment to protecting those who are exploited by these drugs gangs – seeing more than 160 people safeguarded this year alone.
At a conference held on 7 August in Chelmsford and organised by Essex Police, stories were shared by those with lived experiences in the county lines world.
Talks followed from leading detectives, frontline practitioners who work with young people, and academic researchers in the field.
Each session was a chance to explore successful interventions and safeguarding strategies for exploited people.
The event featured presentations and input from:
The Ivison Trust, who presented a case study featuring a mum and son with lived experience of the impact of county lines activity.
Essex County Council’s Risk in the Community and Active Essex, as well as The Violence and Vulnerability Unit’s ReRoute programme, all shared the experience of frontline practitioners dealing with young people caught up in county lines.
Dr Paul Nelson, senior lecturer in criminology at Anglia Ruskin University, whose presentation was based on unregistered children’s homes and child criminal exploitation.
Our own Operation Raptor teams, part of our Serious Violence Unit, presented a case study on the ‘Curtis’ drug line, which operated in Clacton.
Earlier this year, we shared how our investigation identified three missing teenage boys who had been coerced into working for the line.
They were trafficked to Clacton from their homes in other areas of Essex.
“Following a lengthy investigation, each child was safeguarded by our teams, with the offenders running the line caught, charged and jailed for a combined 19 years”.
Detective Inspector Mark Jones, who hosted the event, said:
“This event gave us a unique opportunity to deepen our knowledge, reflect on practice, and strengthen collaborative responses to one of the most pressing safeguarding issues of our time.
“County lines gangs exploit or employ children, drug users and the vulnerable as a ready source of cheap labour.
“They use the threat of violence or the entirely false offer of wealth and status to do so.
“Children, by their nature and lack of experience, are much more vulnerable to these types of influences.
“The numbers we’ve seen so far this year, while a result of our proactive police work, do illustrate the depth of the problem we face.
“This has largely been about learning form the lived experiences of those who have been involved in county lines activity.
“A policing perspective, alone and in isolation, is not enough to get to grips with the motivations and reality of those either exploited or recruited to engage in the drugs world.
“We can also broaden our joint understanding by bringing together our partners who deal with young people engaged in this activity.
“Arrests, charges and prison sentences alone will not stop the county lines drug trade.
“We need to understand and deal with the underlying causes of addiction, which drives the demand for Class A drugs.
“Childhood trauma is at the forefront of this. We need to continue to focus on a whole-system approach where trauma-prevention, rehabilitation and early intervention run in tandem with enforcement.”
