UK Government Launches Dedicated Taskforce to Tackle County Lines Drug Running in West Yorkshire

Strategic Insights -

As part of the UK government's efforts to combat county lines drug running, a specialist police team will be established in West Yorkshire, backed by £1 million of government funding. The dedicated taskforce in West Yorkshire is an expansion of the government's County Lines Programme, which already funds taskforces in major cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham. The programme aims to put a stop to this violent trade, which often sees children used to move and store drugs and money.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK government is investing £1 million in a specialist police team to tackle county lines drug running in West Yorkshire.
  • The taskforce is an expansion of the government's County Lines Programme, which also funds taskforces in London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
  • Since July 2024, the taskforces funded through the national programme have led to over 1,200 line closures, 2,000 arrests, and the charging of over 800 criminals controlling lines.
  • Specialist support services provided by Catch22 will be extended to the region to help vulnerable people and children exploited by this trade.
  • The government has introduced new laws to punish gangs who lure people into their illegal trade, including specific offences of child criminal exploitation, cuckooing, and coerced internal concealment.
  • Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jones stated that the formation of a dedicated taskforce for West Yorkshire gives the force an opportunity to build on their work in tackling county lines crime head-on.
  • West Yorkshire has been one of the largest exporters of county lines drug running in recent years, with 28 arrests and 2 line closures made by police last week as part of a national County Lines Intensification Week.
  • The government has pledged to halve knife crime in the next decade, and tackling violent and exploitative drug gangs through the County Lines Programme is crucial in delivering this commitment.
  • The expansion of the County Lines Programme comes as the Home Secretary launches the government's Safer Streets summer initiative, which aims to target town centre crime and antisocial behaviour.

Statistics:

  • £1 million of government funding has been invested in a specialist police team to tackle county lines drug running in West Yorkshire.
  • Since July 2024, the taskforces funded through the national programme have led to:

+ Over 1,200 line closures

+ 2,000 arrests

+ The charging of over 800 criminals controlling lines

  • £9,000 of Class A drugs and over £100,000 in cash were seized by officers as part of a national County Lines Intensification Week.
  • 500 town centres have signed up to the Home Secretary's Safer Streets summer blitz.

Sources:

  • [UK Government news release]
  • [Home Secretary Yvette Cooper]
  • [Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jones]
  • [Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin]
  • [Catch22 Strategic Director - Young People Families and Communities Kate Wareham]