Plea for continued information in county lines fight

Last week the force carried out a series of operations, including drug stops as people drove into Stoke Heath Prison.

On Friday in Oswestry, police executed a warrant at an address known to them for drug dealing in Queen Elizabeth Close.

The address was being used by drug dealers who had taken over the home from a vulnerable occupant, a tactic known as cuckooing.

Keep telling us

DS Andy Chatting said the information which led to the warrant being executed came from the public, and he would urge others not to hesitate getting in touch if they have any key information relating to county lines.

He said: “We are wanting the public to keep getting in touch, and keep telling us if they have any information.

“This warrant didn’t find any drugs, but it was evident drug dealing had been happening there, and we were able to give assistance to a vulnerable 19-year-old whose flat had been taken over.

“We will keep going until the dealers get fed up.

“We don’t want people to think the police know everything, if you have information on things contact the police.”

The drugs gangs, from cities such as Liverpool or Birmingham, set up a designated phone line that is used to bring drugs into the area.

Cuckooing

DS Chatting revealed that police worked with partner agencies, including a house association, to help the 19-year-old person who was in the property.

He said measures have been put in place to help the occupant of the property, however the detective admitted the dealers in the town will just go and target another property now.

He said: “We believe this young man is being used for cuckooing, so when we attended the address and called in other partners, the person was informed of their options and what could happen.

“They agreed to a police cuckooing plan, and there will now be follow up visits made to the property.

“It was a successful warrant from our point of view as it has led to someone being helped.”

Last week superintendent Mo Lansdale revealed that a team of five detectives are identifying new ‘lines’ that are being set up to bring drugs into the county.

She made the comments when speaking to Shrewsbury Town Council, when she informed councillors work was taking place across the county to tackle the problem.

During the meeting, a number of councillors raised concerns in their specific areas that drug dealing is rife across the town.

Keith Roberts, who represents Radbrook said that children coming out of school after detentions are being targeted by the gangs.

The superintendent said: “We need to get into schools at an early age, and educate on how children are being exploited.

“People who run these lines are clever, and they work out ways to target young people and it is a real issue.

“We need to make sure schools are aware of some of the signs, such as children having extra money and not wanting to talk.”