Agenda item - County Lines

Report of the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities and Housing (copy attached).

59.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities and Housing which explained what county lines was (a police term used to describe urban gangs supplying drugs to market and coastal towns across the country using dedicated mobile phone lines) and, gave an overview of how this might be impacting in Brighton and Hove. The report also went on to consider the next steps the council would take alongside the police and other agencies to reduce the impact of this problem.

59.2    The Head of Community Safety, Peter Castleton, further explained that gangs often used children and vulnerable people too move drugs and money between different locations. Gangs established a base, typically by taking over the homes of local vulnerable adults (who were often drug users) by force or coercion which was known as cuckooing. This activity with its associated violence, drug dealing and exploitation had a major impact on young people, vulnerable adults and local communities and was a major cross-cutting issue involving drugs, violence, gangs, safeguarding, criminal child exploitation, modern slavery and missing persons. Drugs supplied through county lines were primarily heroin and crack cocaine, although cannabis was also supplied by runners as a secondary drug as an independent side-line to generate extra income.

59.3    Chief Superintendent Bell, explained that the national response to this problem involved the police, the National Crime Agency, a wide range of government departments local government and the voluntary and community sector and the London Borough of Islington was leading a cross party call from lead members for children’s services from 19 London boroughs for the Government to help protect vulnerable young people. Locally, there was no doubt that County lines was operating in the city as the Police and Council had closed down over 20 premises over the past two years using Closure Orders under the 2014 Anti-social Behaviour, Policing and Crime Act. Sussex Police sought to disrupt drug dealing on a regular basis as part of a comprehensive operation using specially trained officers from out of force to identify dealers. Such operations would continue as they were having an impact on drug supply, however, demand in the city meant that new drug dealers quickly took the place of those who had been arrested.

59.4    There were robust working practices in place in the city for dealing with premises which had been cuckooed, including gathering intelligence, executing drugs warrants and closing premises quickly using ASB Act powers when necessary to bring relief to neighbours, supporting vulnerable and displaced residents and taking direct action against the perpetrators. Where County lines existed there was significant impact on neighbours and the wider neighbourhood and in instances where this had happened as appropriate meetings had taken place to reassure communities and to take the opportunity to encourage reporting of incidents. Officers had met with the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office who were keen to establish the profile and extent of drugs use in the city. County lines operated in the city because there was a substantial demand for drugs and County lines evolved and adapted quickly to meet that demand. This work would be linked to the County Lines Action Plan being established by the Community Safety Partnership. It was acknowledged that the initial action plan would need to be sufficiently flexible to meet changing needs to address this issue.

59.5    This was a complex issue which was prevalent in metropolitan areas and was becoming increasingly commonplace in towns and cities across the country where there was sufficient drugs demand. Officers would continue to work with communities to build confidence in reporting issues and to make links elsewhere in the country with colleagues who were undertaking new work to tackle county lines and to bring that learning to bear locally where appropriate.

59.6    The  Chair, Councillor  Daniel welcomed  the  report, which she considered  was very  informative. It  was distressing to  note  the levels  of  coercion  and  violence associated with  this activity but heartening  to  note the  degree  of  collaboration  between the  different  agencies. The public health implications which existed  on  a number  of  levels   were  major  and  concerning and the  necessity for a joined  up  approach by  all agencies  was key  in  combatting  this  problem. The  picture  being painted  was a scary one but it was good to note  that further joint  working was envisioned going forward and that an Action Plan was in the process of being drawn up.

59.7    Joanna Martindale and Anusree Biswas Sassidharan commented on the on-going importance of learning from experiences gained and of linking in to local communities in seeking to address this problem.

59.8    Councillor West welcomed the information provided by the report although it made very depressing reading and sought clarification as to how it would link in with community safety. Councillor West also considered that it was important to ensure that Local Action Teams were kept informed of and involved in the process within their individual areas.

59.9    Councillor Penn expressed concern regarding the potentially high level demands that would be placed on services across the board bearing in mind that children and vulnerable people were targeted and the levels of coercion and violence involved.

59.10  Councillor Bewick referred to the fact that social housing seemed and those who were vulnerable such as young care leavers seemed to be particular focuses for this criminal activity. It was important to work not only with communities but also pro-actively with private sector landlords, other social landlords and with the council’s own housing offices in order to deliver an adaptable and agile response to tackle this problem.

59.11  RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee notes the adoption of “Tackling County Lines” as a priority for the Community Safety Partnership and requests that the Community Safety Partnership reports back to Committee on action taken in six months; and

            (2) That the Committee requests that officers of the council share this report with the Local Children’s Safeguarding Board and the Safeguarding Adults Board and to bring the Boards’ respective responses back to this committee.