County Lines – Can You Help With the Missing Piece?

Warwickshire Police need your help to tackle county lines drug crime, you are our eyes and ears in the community. Please look out for the signs of county lines and report it to us.

County lines is a term used to describe gangs transporting drugs from bigger cities into smaller towns. It’s a national problem involving drug gangs operating from cities including Birmingham, London, Manchester and Liverpool.

As a force, we have a number of proactive operations running aimed at disrupting county lines drug dealing and bringing offenders to justice.

We would urge people to look out for the following signs:

•Children or young people going missing from home or school, and/or socialising with unfamiliar people.

•A person starting to abuse drugs and alcohol, and/or a change in their behaviour and emotional wellbeing.

•Someone acquiring money they can’t account for or buying expensive goods they can’t afford.

•Lone children visiting from outside the area.

•Someone with multiple phones, tablets or SIM cards.

•Unknown or suspicious people going into a neighbour’s house – especially if that neighbour is vulnerable.

If anyone has information or concerns about county lines crime or that someone vulnerable is being exploited, please call 101. Alternatively, information can be provide anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.