Gangs, Criminal Exploitation and County Lines

1. Gangs, Criminal Exploitation and County Lines Version 2: June 2019

2. County Lines • County Lines supply Class A drugs (primarily crack cocaine and heroin) from an urban hub into rural towns or county locations. This is facilitated by a group who may not necessarily be affiliated as a gang, but who have developed networks across geographical boundaries to access and exploit existing drugs markets in these areas. (County Lines, Violence, Exploitation and Drug Supply, National Crime Agency, 2017). • County Lines operate as drug dealing businesses and are motivated by profit. • Referred to as ‘going country’ ‘going cunch’ or ‘going OT’

3. Urban Street Gangs A relatively durable, predominantly street-based group of young people who: (1) see themselves (and are seen by others) as a discernible group; (2) engage in a range of criminal activity and violence; (3) identify with or lay claim over territory; (4) have some form of identifying structural feature, and (5) are in conflict with other, similar, gangs. (Dying to Belong, 2009)

4. Gang Membership • Gang Nominal: A gang nominal is someone who has been identified as being a gang member and this is corroborated by intelligence from more than one source (e.g. police, partner agency or community intelligence). • Gang Associate: A gang associate is defined as someone who offends with gang nominals; who is associated by the police, partner agency or community intelligence with gang members; or who has displayed, through conduct or behaviour, a specific desire or intent to become a member of a gang. • Gang Affiliated: A gang affiliated individual is someone who has links to gang associates or gang nominals. This for example, may be through growing up together int eh same neighbourhood or attending school or a sporting activity together. There is no known gang related offending between them.

5. Girls and Gangs • Used to hold or transport drugs or weapons. • More likely to be asked to move drugs as thought to be less likely to be stopped. • Usually in a relationship with or linked via family to a male associated with gangs/ organised crime networks. • Risk of CSE is increased. • In some areas there is evidence that sex is exchanged for status within a gang. • Sex has been used by some gangs ( no evidence in Suffolk) as part of the initiation process as a way to control, humiliate and demonstrate group loyalty. • May be used to actively recruit new members locally. • https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/may/12/the-county-lines-drug-dealer-once-get-in-hard-to-get-out The Guardian, (12.05.18)

6. Social Media • Tool for promoting brand • Music videos • ‘Drill’ • Quick time exchange of information • Enhances status and reputation • ‘Snapchat’ – immediate post which disappears

7. Child Criminal Exploitation is common in county lines and occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18. The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Child Criminal Exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology. Child Criminal Exploitation

8. The Suffolk Picture The picture in Suffolk, as elsewhere, evolves rapidly. Practitioners should be alert to the fact that this is the case, as the gangs and county line networks will adjust their tactics to avoid specific law enforcement or to gain greater market share.

9. Partnership Approach – Contextual safeguarding Contextual safeguarding is a key approach to understanding and responding to young people’s experiences of significant harm beyond their families. It is important to consider disruption of the exploitation and that practitioners and police work together to identify the perpetrators, locations and networks associated to the exploitation and develop plans to disrupt these.

10. Why are we concerned? Impact A child or young person who is affected by gang activity or serious youth violence can be at risk of significant harm. • Exploitation to commit crimes such as selling drugs, stealing phones etc. • Retaliatory violence. • Psychological harm due to the trauma gang members experience and witness. • Physical harm suffered – whilst committing a crime or due to drug debts. • Violence to assert authority in the local area. • Sexual violence and sexual exploitation.

11. Spotting the Signs: How do we know when a young person is being exploited by a gang? • Who may notice? • What might they see?

12. What are the signs • Presenting with physical injuries and or refusal to seek/receive medical treatment. • Associating with peers who are involved/suspected to be involved in gang related activity. • Refuses/scared to enter certain areas. • Expressing aggressive or intimidating views towards other groups of young people (some of whom may have been friends in the past). • Multiple mobile phones/frequent change of phone number. • Frequently missing or missing for significant periods of time. • Travelling around a lot – seen in taxi’s regularly/being seen in cars (often hire cars), possibly with unknown adults, on a regular basis. • In possession of large amounts of unexplained money. • New clothes/trainers. • Drug related or violent offending involving weapons. • Sibling involvement.

13. What to do if you suspect a child or young person is at risk of gang involvement or is involved with a gang? Making a Referral to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). The Signs of Gang Involvement Screening Toolkit will assist in enabling practitioners to reach a reasonable working conclusion as to levels of risk. Based on this assessment it may be necessary to make a referral to the MASH. Professionals with concerns about a child or young person or vulnerable adult should follow the safeguarding referral protocols and procedures. Suffolk Youth Justice Service Consultancy and Advice is available from the Suffolk Youth Justice Service. The Suffolk Youth Justice Service also has access to specific resources to use with children and young people at risk of gang involvement and expertise in this area of work.

14. If you have a concern about a child or young person Talk to your Designated Safeguarding Lead If you have an urgent safeguarding concern you should contact: Customer First: 0808 800 4005. Suffolk Police: 01473 613500 or in an emergency call 999. Customer First can also be contacted out of hours. If you have a concern about an adult and wish to make a safeguarding referral you will need to use the Suffolk County Council Children and Young People’s Portal. The first time you complete a form you will be asked to create a new portal account. It’s quick and easy to register for an account, and means the information you send to us is secure. You can access the portal via the LSCB website: http://www.suffolkscb.org.uk/working-with-children/how-to-make-a-referral/ If you would like to discuss whether or not a referral is required, you can call the Professional Consultation Line on 03456 061 499 to speak with a MASH social worker.

15. If you have a concern about an adult Talk to your Designated Safeguarding Lead If you have an urgent safeguarding concern you should contact: Customer First: 0808 800 4005. Suffolk Police: 01473 613500 or in an emergency call 999. Customer First can also be contacted out of hours. If you have a concern about an adult and wish to make a safeguarding referral you will need to use the Suffolk County Council Adult Care Portal. The first time you complete a form you will be asked to create a new portal account. It’s quick and easy to register for an account, and means the information you send to us is secure. You can access the portal via the SAB website: https://suffolkas.org/concerned/ If you would like to discuss whether or not a referral is required, you can call the Professional Consultation Line on 03456 061 499 to speak with a MASH social worker. For Self-Neglect & Hoarding concerns, please complete the Self-Neglect and Hoarding Referral Form available from: http://www.suffolkas.org

16. Useful Contacts MASH Professional Consultation Line Tel: 03456 061 499 LSCB Website www.suffolkscb.org.uk Suffolk Police https://www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us Tel: 101 or 999 in an emergency Make A Change (MAC) Makeachange@suffolk.gov.uk Tel: 01473 263 507 Suffolk Youth Justice Service (YJS) https://suffolkyouthjustice.co.uk/ Diversion Referral Information: https://suffolkyouthjustice.co.uk/diversion Ipswich - 01473 260 110 Bury St Edmunds - 01284 758230 Lowestoft - 01502 674880

17. Resources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHKccU2NYDQ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/bbcthree_britains_teenage_drug_runners http://www.suffolkscb.org.uk/assets/Safeguarding-Topics/Gangs/2016-05-10-Safeguarding-Children-and-Young-People-at-Risk-of-Gang-Involvement.doc.pdf http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/832-county-lines-violence-exploitation-and-drug-supply-2017/file http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33889406 http://www.eif.org.uk/publication/preventing-gang-and-youth-violence/ https://www.uos.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Final%20Amended%20Report%20-FINAL%20VERSION%20PDF.pdf https://www.knifefree.co.uk/know-the-risks/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2XTX1hsNKg72mryHyMZXqFk/music-not-gang-culture-how-drill-can-help-young-people