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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/07/county-lines-illegal-drug-trade-trafficking-oxfordshire
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| 'My safe little town isn't safe any more': the toll of the county lines drug trade | 'My safe little town isn't safe any more': the toll of the county lines drug trade |
| (3 months later) | |
| Sam has lived in the same English town his whole life, but recently a new craze has taken over his and other young people’s lives in the area. It isn’t the latest video game or fashion item, but rather teenagers in the region have increasingly been caught up in the county lines drug trade. | Sam has lived in the same English town his whole life, but recently a new craze has taken over his and other young people’s lives in the area. It isn’t the latest video game or fashion item, but rather teenagers in the region have increasingly been caught up in the county lines drug trade. |
| The practice, also known as “going country” or OT (out there), involves urban gangs moving class A drugs and cash between inner-city hubs and provincial areas. Young people are recruited by drug dealers who groom them and offer them money to sell drugs in rural areas. | The practice, also known as “going country” or OT (out there), involves urban gangs moving class A drugs and cash between inner-city hubs and provincial areas. Young people are recruited by drug dealers who groom them and offer them money to sell drugs in rural areas. |
| Earlier this year a meeting of the all-party parliamentary group on knife crime discussed the increase in local recruitment, saying it was a problem for areas not well-equipped to deal with London-style gang crime. | Earlier this year a meeting of the all-party parliamentary group on knife crime discussed the increase in local recruitment, saying it was a problem for areas not well-equipped to deal with London-style gang crime. |
| Operations in major cities seek new markets outside urban hubs for their drugs, primarily crack cocaine and heroin. The expansion of their networks into the regions often comes with exploitation. | Operations in major cities seek new markets outside urban hubs for their drugs, primarily crack cocaine and heroin. The expansion of their networks into the regions often comes with exploitation. |
| Children and vulnerable adults are often coerced into ferrying and stashing the drugs. They can be homeless or missing people, addicts, people living in care, trapped in poverty, or suffering from mental illness or learning difficulties. Even older and physically infirm people have been targeted and officers have observed a gang member attending drug rehab to find potential runners. | Children and vulnerable adults are often coerced into ferrying and stashing the drugs. They can be homeless or missing people, addicts, people living in care, trapped in poverty, or suffering from mental illness or learning difficulties. Even older and physically infirm people have been targeted and officers have observed a gang member attending drug rehab to find potential runners. |
| Initially they can be lured in with money, gifts and the prospect of status. But this can quickly turn into the use of violence, sometimes sexual. | Initially they can be lured in with money, gifts and the prospect of status. But this can quickly turn into the use of violence, sometimes sexual. |
| National Crime Agency research shows police have knowledge of at least 720 county lines in England and Wales, but it is feared the true number is far higher. Around 65% of forces reported county lines being linked to child exploitation, while 74% noted vulnerable people being targeted. | National Crime Agency research shows police have knowledge of at least 720 county lines in England and Wales, but it is feared the true number is far higher. Around 65% of forces reported county lines being linked to child exploitation, while 74% noted vulnerable people being targeted. |
| Children without criminal records - known in the trade as "clean skins" - are preferred because they are less likely to be known to detectives. Charity The Children's Society says 4,000 teenagers in London alone are exploited through county lines. The Children's Commissioner estimates at least 46,000 children in England are caught up in gangs. | Children without criminal records - known in the trade as "clean skins" - are preferred because they are less likely to be known to detectives. Charity The Children's Society says 4,000 teenagers in London alone are exploited through county lines. The Children's Commissioner estimates at least 46,000 children in England are caught up in gangs. |
| Simon Harding, a professor of criminology at the University of West London, said: “The way it used to work was that they would send up lads from London but they stood out like a sore thumb. Now they have switched to recruiting local people. Often people in these areas don’t realise that these London boys play by different rules and if they threaten to stab you, they will do – that is the end of it.” | Simon Harding, a professor of criminology at the University of West London, said: “The way it used to work was that they would send up lads from London but they stood out like a sore thumb. Now they have switched to recruiting local people. Often people in these areas don’t realise that these London boys play by different rules and if they threaten to stab you, they will do – that is the end of it.” |
| Drugs gangs recruiting children from small towns, research reveals | Drugs gangs recruiting children from small towns, research reveals |
| Sam, 16, is one of those local recruits. Sitting in his living room, playing with his dog and eating a McDonald’s, he explains that the draw for young people like him, living in provincial towns, is money. “It seems to be the latest craze, it’s been a phase for everyone … those who get kicked out of school,” he says. | Sam, 16, is one of those local recruits. Sitting in his living room, playing with his dog and eating a McDonald’s, he explains that the draw for young people like him, living in provincial towns, is money. “It seems to be the latest craze, it’s been a phase for everyone … those who get kicked out of school,” he says. |
| “I think middle-class kids will do it too, but it is mainly kids who don’t have a lot … People are letting anyone do it now but you have to be serious. | “I think middle-class kids will do it too, but it is mainly kids who don’t have a lot … People are letting anyone do it now but you have to be serious. |
| “I think some kids are getting involved now without realising what they are getting themselves into. I’ve heard of people around here doing it and they are not the sort of people you’d expect.” | “I think some kids are getting involved now without realising what they are getting themselves into. I’ve heard of people around here doing it and they are not the sort of people you’d expect.” |
| Sam is from Oxfordshire, although the exact location cannot be revealed to protect his identity. He stopped dealing after getting stabbed just over a month ago. He says his role used to be to pick up drugs from those involved in city gangs – mainly heroin and crack cocaine – and sell them. | Sam is from Oxfordshire, although the exact location cannot be revealed to protect his identity. He stopped dealing after getting stabbed just over a month ago. He says his role used to be to pick up drugs from those involved in city gangs – mainly heroin and crack cocaine – and sell them. |
| Oxfordshire is one of the areas in the UK being silently engulfed by the county lines phenomenon. Data from Thames Valley police shows that drug trafficking offences have risen by 51% in two years, from 725 incidents recorded in 2015-16 to 1,321 in 2017-2018. Violent crime is also rising, and the number of people Thames Valley police have arrested for carrying a knife or blade has doubled in five years. | Oxfordshire is one of the areas in the UK being silently engulfed by the county lines phenomenon. Data from Thames Valley police shows that drug trafficking offences have risen by 51% in two years, from 725 incidents recorded in 2015-16 to 1,321 in 2017-2018. Violent crime is also rising, and the number of people Thames Valley police have arrested for carrying a knife or blade has doubled in five years. |
| A freedom of information request sent to the force by the Oxford Mail found that officers arrested 651 people for carrying a knife or “bladed article” in 2017, up from 328 in 2013. | A freedom of information request sent to the force by the Oxford Mail found that officers arrested 651 people for carrying a knife or “bladed article” in 2017, up from 328 in 2013. |
| Sam is aware of the violence that comes with the trade, having been stabbed 13 times earlier this year. “I was in a long alleyway and I heard a shout and then I turned around and was stabbed all over my body. I got up and the other person grabbed me and fell over again. I turned around and ran off, got to the top of the road and fell to the floor. I didn’t feel pain when it was happening, didn’t feel anything until I started running off, then I felt it in my legs,” he says. | Sam is aware of the violence that comes with the trade, having been stabbed 13 times earlier this year. “I was in a long alleyway and I heard a shout and then I turned around and was stabbed all over my body. I got up and the other person grabbed me and fell over again. I turned around and ran off, got to the top of the road and fell to the floor. I didn’t feel pain when it was happening, didn’t feel anything until I started running off, then I felt it in my legs,” he says. |
| He was taken to the hospital and was lucky to survive. The weapon used was a kitchen knife and it would have been much worse if it had been sharper. “I’d never been in a situation like that before … I had never really felt unsafe when I was dealing,” he says. | He was taken to the hospital and was lucky to survive. The weapon used was a kitchen knife and it would have been much worse if it had been sharper. “I’d never been in a situation like that before … I had never really felt unsafe when I was dealing,” he says. |
| Thames Valley police have poured extra resources into tackling offences amid rising reports of drug dealing and use on city streets. They have carried out a number of raids across the city and county to crack down on county lines drug dealing. In a statement, the force said tackling the problem was a priority and it was working with local partners to arrest drug dealers coming into the area. | Thames Valley police have poured extra resources into tackling offences amid rising reports of drug dealing and use on city streets. They have carried out a number of raids across the city and county to crack down on county lines drug dealing. In a statement, the force said tackling the problem was a priority and it was working with local partners to arrest drug dealers coming into the area. |
| Experts have warned that the trade can be overwhelming for non-metropolitan police forces. Harding said traditional drug distribution methods had changed and forces had not kept up. Local services in a lot of rural areas have been scrapped. “Some police forces have not kept up to speed, they are finding it a challenge with all the new people coming in taking over properties and setting up drug distribution houses. | Experts have warned that the trade can be overwhelming for non-metropolitan police forces. Harding said traditional drug distribution methods had changed and forces had not kept up. Local services in a lot of rural areas have been scrapped. “Some police forces have not kept up to speed, they are finding it a challenge with all the new people coming in taking over properties and setting up drug distribution houses. |
| “If you’re a rural or provisional division or force it is unlikely you have had to deal with that in the past so it puts you on the back foot,” he said, adding that an area like Oxford would usually have two or three lines coming in. | “If you’re a rural or provisional division or force it is unlikely you have had to deal with that in the past so it puts you on the back foot,” he said, adding that an area like Oxford would usually have two or three lines coming in. |
| “If they are run by the same gang then they will be reasonably stable, but if they are run by different gangs vying and competing it can lead to violence,” he said. | “If they are run by the same gang then they will be reasonably stable, but if they are run by different gangs vying and competing it can lead to violence,” he said. |
| “In some towns, for example, there are a number of addresses used for drug dealing and cuckooing [when a house is taken over by a gang and used to stash and sell drugs]. This surprised me but there are not many police officers around that area so it’s the ideal location”. | “In some towns, for example, there are a number of addresses used for drug dealing and cuckooing [when a house is taken over by a gang and used to stash and sell drugs]. This surprised me but there are not many police officers around that area so it’s the ideal location”. |
| Sam’s father, Dominic, said social services were slow to respond to his son’s stabbing. He said he was told it was the first time they had encountered county lines and did not know what they were dealing with. | Sam’s father, Dominic, said social services were slow to respond to his son’s stabbing. He said he was told it was the first time they had encountered county lines and did not know what they were dealing with. |
| “They asked: ‘What do you want?’ They wanted me to come up with a plan. There is not much support in the town. I felt powerless and eventually I had to take my son away for a while with a friend. There is no support now we are back,” he said. Dominic said where he lived could be described as “boring” but he stayed because he thought it was safe. | “They asked: ‘What do you want?’ They wanted me to come up with a plan. There is not much support in the town. I felt powerless and eventually I had to take my son away for a while with a friend. There is no support now we are back,” he said. Dominic said where he lived could be described as “boring” but he stayed because he thought it was safe. |
| “Now you have got groups of kids carrying knives, that is where we are at – my safe little town isn’t safe any more and some people are oblivious to what is going on under their noses. It needs to be dealt with before more children get caught up and risk their lives.” | “Now you have got groups of kids carrying knives, that is where we are at – my safe little town isn’t safe any more and some people are oblivious to what is going on under their noses. It needs to be dealt with before more children get caught up and risk their lives.” |
| Anneliese Jane Dodds, the MP for Oxford East, said: “[County lines] is a very big problem in Oxford, based on a number of cases that have occurred … vulnerable people are exploited by some of these gangs, including very young people because these gangs think they are under the age of criminal responsibility. | Anneliese Jane Dodds, the MP for Oxford East, said: “[County lines] is a very big problem in Oxford, based on a number of cases that have occurred … vulnerable people are exploited by some of these gangs, including very young people because these gangs think they are under the age of criminal responsibility. |
| “I have people contacting me on a daily basis about open drug dealing in certain areas and county lines activity.” | “I have people contacting me on a daily basis about open drug dealing in certain areas and county lines activity.” |
| Some names have been changed. | Some names have been changed. |
| Some names have been changed. | Some names have been changed. |
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| Drugs trade | Drugs trade |
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| County lines | |
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