Crimestoppers launch county lines campaign

The charity Crimestoppers and its youth service Fearless have launched a campaign in Swindon and Wiltshire, focusing on the signs to look out for that County Lines is happening and how to report it 100% anonymously.

County Lines drug gangs are an increasing problem, which leads to the exploitation of young people and vulnerable adults. Often the public or friends and families of those drawn into County Lines are unaware of the signs of what exploitation of vulnerable people by criminal gangs may look like.

Crimestoppers has recently produced a training package on County Lines for taxi drivers in Swindon and Wiltshire, focusing on the signs to look out for and how to report 100% anonymously to the charity.

The campaign will highlight how organised criminal gangs target people to find out their vulnerabilities. A lifestyle is then sold before loyalty is tested, often through asking for favours and offering a sense of protection, in return for couriering illegal drugs and money across cities, towns and villages, known as County Lines.

Sadly, these relationships soon turn violent, leading to those exploited being trapped through debt bondage, trafficking, isolation from family and friends and physical, psychological and sexual abuse.

Crimestoppers and Fearless, which are independent of the police, are encouraging anyone with information or suspicions about organised drug gangs to contact the charity 100% anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111 at any time or by completing a secure online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org or Fearless.org for young people, where more can also be learnt about the warning signs of County Lines activity.

Fearless also offers young people non-judgemental advice so they can make informed decisions about lifestyle choices and realise that they have an alternative option when reporting crime.

Beth Simpson, Regional Manager at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “We know that drug gangs use violence and intimidation to coerce individuals to do what they want them to do. This level of exploitation often leads to people feeling that they have become trapped and they often do not know how to get out.

“We are asking the public to remain vigilant to the signs of grooming and the three grooming stages of targeting, testing and trapping. We are also appealing to everyone to help protect vulnerable members in our community from County Lines activity by speaking up about your concerns to the authorities.

“Information can be passed to Crimestoppers or Fearless for young people, which are independent of the police, at any time, by calling 0800 555 111 or by completing a safe and secure anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org or Fearless.org, 100% anonymously without fear of any repercussions. Our charity has always kept its promise of anonymity to everyone who contacts us.”

A free training session will take place online on Monday 13 November for professionals working with young people in Swindon and Wiltshire, to learn more about the Fearless anonymous reporting service and how to speak to young people about barriers to reporting crime.

The session will cover the difference between ‘snitching’ and reporting, along with the Bystander Approach, and what it means to be an ‘active bystander’, which describes choosing to take appropriate action when you know that behaviour is not acceptable.

Visit Fearless.org for more information on Fearless and the resources it has available for young people and their peers.