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Explore the national issue of county lines criminality and its impact on local communities. Discover the response to the threat, risk, and harm posed by these criminal networks.
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COUNTY LINES CRIMINALITY NATIONAL ISSUE – LOCAL PROBLEM THE RESPONSE TO THE THREAT, RISK AND HARM POSED TO OUR COMMUNITIES DI Justin O'Keeffe - County Lines Tactical and Support Officer (TCSO) Wales ROCU
Wales Update – Line data • There are 130 lines recorded on the Wales force CLICM returns. These are line numbers running through Wales. There may be franchise line names/OCGs who run a number of these numbers. The majority of lines run into either Swansea (41) or Cardiff (26). The next towns most impacted in Wales by County Lines are Rhyl and Llandudno in North Wales and Llandrindod Wells in Dyfed Powys. These lines mainly originate from Liverpool, Birmingham and London. There are 492 nominals recorded on the Wales CLICM returns. The majority are recorded by South Wales North Wales. • In November CLICM data, 39.1% of lines recorded trafficked or exploited adults. Almost half (47.7%) of the data wasn’t completed. • 26.6% of Wales forces recorded no out of force juvenile trafficking, 20% recorded juvenile trafficking and 39% of the data wasn’t completed. • In November CLICM data, 1 line has been recorded as being linked to CSEA – the Marco line in Dyfed Powys. • Half of the returns from Wales were incomplete, with 32.8% recording no link to CSEA and 15.6% unknown. The majority – 86.6% - of those nominals involved in County Lines around Wales are recorded as being in workforce roles (either runners/local enforcers). This reflects Wales’s position as a primarily importing region. Those classified as Other include Cuckoo victims and those at risk. Of the 6 nominals under 18, 2 are recorded by South Wales and 4 by Dyfed Powys. 1 of these has been referred through the NRM process. Average age: 31 • In November CLICM data, 1 in 3 of the lines in Wales were recorded as using cuckooed addresses in the past 8 weeks. • 54.7% of the CLICM data was incomplete across forces. 10.9% recorded it was unknown whether the lines cuckooed addresses. The drugs supplied into Wales have mainly been classified as Crack and Heroin on the CLICM. Under 10% were recorded as being cocaine and heroin. North Wales only recorded Crack and Heroin drug supply, whereas Gwent saw more cocaine and heroin supplied. • 1 person in the November CLICM data was referred into the NRM process. • This individual is a Dealer linked to the Fred line running into Haverfordwest. • 41.3% of the data wasn’t completed in the CLICM returns across Wales. 33.8% were unknown whether they were NRM referred. The data included in this report is taken from the November 2018 Wales CLICM returns. The data included needs to be caveated with the fact the CLICM returns may not include all line/nominal intelligence – regionally we are working on consolidating processes in terms of national reporting and improving data collection and recording at a regional level. OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE SENSITIF-SWYDDOGOL
HOW THESE GANGS OPERATE • The way that county lines operate is to groom/entice/recruit vulnerable populations of young people and adults to ’work’ for them by offers of money, status, clothes and drugs. • They identify these vulnerable population through a number of identifying factors • …and by using social media, which is also used to monitor them too
Gangs are recruiting/exploiting vulnerable adults by….. Gangs • Identifying and locating the most vulnerable adults; • Homeless • Insecure tenants • People with mental health issues • People with learning disabilities • Drug and Alcohol use • Offenders (specific types of offending) • ‘Cuckooing’ • 1st year students VULNERABLE ADULTS
FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION Gangs • Evidence that 18 + young people are now being targeted by gangs, as service provision falls away. • Evidence that 1st year college students are being targeted • Young people’s bank accounts are being used for money laundering by gangs and drug dealers • Credit card fraud associated with money laundering • Loans to pay off debts? VULNERABLE ADULTS (18-25)
Identification Signs of vulnerability/exploitation • Who is a victim? What is the Safeguarding Process?