County lines, cuckoos and child exploitation: How lockdown hit Sussex's drug dealers

Sweeping social changes brought about by the coronavirus pandemic have left us all adjusting to the 'new normal', and it has been no different for Sussex's drug dealers.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Lockdown presented an ideal opportunity for Sussex Police, in line with other forces and agencies, to crack down on county lines drug dealing as overall crime fell and deserted streets made any criminal activity all the more obvious.

County lines drug dealing refers to drug networks set up by gangs and organised crime groups from large urban areas, such as London, who use young and vulnerable people to carry out illegal activity on their behalf, often in rural areas. Exploitation of children and vulnerable adults, as well as an increasing use of violence, have become hallmarks of the issue.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Dealers will use 'deal lines' - dedicated mobile phone lines to take orders from drug users. According to Sussex Police, there are currently around 90 'deal lines' in operation in Sussex at any one time, often overlapping with other force areas, but that figure fluctuates on a regular basis.

Police officers raided a flat in Horsham, arresting three people.Police officers raided a flat in Horsham, arresting three people.
Police officers raided a flat in Horsham, arresting three people.

Detective Superintendent Stuart Hale, the force's lead on combating county lines, said: "Even during the recent lockdown we have been continuing every day to disrupt dealers who try to deal dangerous drugs across our communities and we target those who use children to sell drugs or those who buy drugs from children.

"We investigate and prosecute, working relentlessly and targeting those who would bring harm to local people, including often the most vulnerable."

According to Sussex Police, the pandemic has presented opportunities for the force to further disrupt county lines dealing.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Reduced transport during the early stages of lockdown meant gangs struggled to move their product. With less opportunity to travel and supply the prices for drug dealers' products ramped up and left them operating in a more dangerous environment.

Lockdown also reduced demand on police officers, allowing more time for proactive policing and opportunities to crack down on dealers travelling by road or public transport. With fewer people around, it also meant dealers were much easier to spot.

But as lockdown restrictions have lifted, police said criminals have started to return to their normal methods as busier streets mask their criminality.

DS Hale said: "Local crime is often a direct result of major drug distribution via county lines and by working together with partners to shed a light on this often hidden crime. We are sending a clear message to drug dealers that they cannot expect to go undetected in Sussex.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The organised crime groups tend to use a local property, generally belonging to a vulnerable person, sometimes a drug user, as a base for their activities. This is known as 'cuckooing' and will often happen by force or coercion. In some instances victims have left their homes in fear of violence. Much police work involves identifying these victims and helping them.

"Police continue to see children being exploited by criminal gangs to supply drugs in Sussex. We have experienced children travelling from London to Sussex to deal drugs on behalf of county line gangs as well Sussex children being exploited and targeted by London gangs to deal drugs locally. Our priority is to identify those children at risk of criminal exploitation and once identified work with partner agencies to put the appropriate safeguarding measures in place. "

The areas in Sussex most effected by the drug trade from London are the larger coastal towns, with established drugs markets that can be exploited locally, including Hastings, Eastbourne, Worthing, Bognor, and Brighton, but also towns such as Crawley.

DS Hale said police's campaign against county lines comes under the banner of operation Fortress. Officers use legal powers such as the Misuse of Drugs Act to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking legislation to crack down on perpetrators.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The police also work with other agencies, he said, to support vulnerable adults and children who fall victim to the gangs. This includes regular visits to adults at risk of cuckooing and spreading information through agencies to children to prevent them being drawn into the world of crime.

Sussex's officers joined a huge, UK-wide crackdown on county lines drug dealing in the week from September 14 to 19. Officers in the county made 29 arrests and seized more than £15,000 worth of drugs, 47 mobile phones and 13 weapons.

In the same week, local officers visited 68 addresses where people were at risk of being 'cuckooed' to check on their safety. They also identified and took safeguarding action for five particularly vulnerable people who needed extra help and support from the police and local services.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "The county lines response isn’t just a policing one. Effective collaboration between law enforcement and safeguarding organisations and also the private sector industries is a vital part of both the national and local response.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Members of the public can also help, the best advice is to trust your instincts – if somebody shows signs of mistreatment, or a child seems to be travelling long distances or is unfamiliar with a locality, you can report suspicions to local police on 101 or via our website - or to British Transport Police if you see something on the railway network.

"As part of the Intensification Week, The Children’s Society has rolled out its #LookCloser awareness campaign across all force areas in partnership with the police. The campaign encourages professionals and the public to ‘Look Closer’ for signs that a child may be at risk of criminal exploitation. For details of the campaign see their website.

"There are also many sources of further advice and assistance to help combat the harm caused by drugs. Safe Space Sussex takes you to all the local organisations who provide support for those affected by drugs misuse."

Read more about the force's day of action here:

The Big Conversation

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Talk is increasing of further lockdowns in the UK. What do you think of the situation? Join the Big Conversation and have your say on everything from healthcare to how the pandemic has affected you personally and how we make our communities stronger: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/bc-worthing