Last week (25 November – 1 December 2024) police forces across the country took part in a week of intensified activity to detect and disrupt County Lines activity which brings violence and exploitation to the south west. County Lines is the term used to describe drug dealing where mobile phones are used to supply drugs, typically from large cities to towns and rural areas. County Lines are run by ‘Line Holders’ and the runners, often vulnerable people, deliver the drugs. The runners are often children being exploited and may possess knives or other weapons.

The national County Lines Intensification Week was organised by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC).

It was conducted in Devon and Cornwall simultaneously with Operation Scorpion 10, an ongoing collaboration between Devon & Cornwall Police, Wiltshire Police, Avon and Somerset Police, Dorset Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary, British Transport Police, the five offices of the Police and Crime Commissioners and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU). Operation Scorpion is designed to combine all these resources to tackle drug supply in the region and make the South West a hostile environment for drugs.

For the full article please see the Devon & Cornwall Police website here.