“County lines” refers to a crime where drugs gangs exploit vulnerable people of all ages to make them move drugs and money across the country from the gang’s base to customers in towns across Devon and Cornwall. The “county line” refers to the mobile phone line which is the link for the drugs gangs to sell drugs.
They will often force a vulnerable person to allow them to take up residence in their home (this is known as cuckooing) to store or sell drugs in the local area.
Everyone has the right to feel safe, wherever they live. Help us keep your campus safe and protect those who need help.
Signs to look out for
- Has a friend or student on your course gone missing for days at a time?
- Are they frequently meeting with unfamiliar people from outside the university?
- Is there a change in their behaviour?
- Have they acquired money or expensive gifts they can’t account for?
- Have you noticed more people calling at a friend’s home, often at unsociable hours?
- Have you noticed any suspicious vehicles or people at a friend’s home?
If you have seen something that looks like it could be a sign of county lines or cuckooing, please tell us.
Report
- Report online at www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/contact
- Call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
- Visit www.dc.police.uk/countylines for more information