A new police taskforce will be launched to tackle drug running in and out of West Yorkshire.
Backed by £1.3m in Government funding, the specialist unit within West Yorkshire Police is an expansion of the Government’s County Lines Programme.
County Lines is a term used to describe gangs who are involved in exporting illegal drugs into areas within the UK, using dedicated ‘deal lines’. It is one of the most violent models of drug supply and often sees children used to move and store drugs and money.
The taskforce will strengthen efforts to disrupt drug gangs, which exploit vulnerable people, including children, to carry out their activities. It will work to break these routes and protect those at risk of exploitation. As part of the new funding, dedicated support services are being provided by Catch22.
Since July 2024, work by the taskforces funded through the national programme has led to more than 1,200 line closures and more than 2,000 arrests, leading to the charging of over 800 criminals controlling lines
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said:
“We must protect our local communities, including vulnerable children, from the scourge of drugs and gang violence.
“This significant investment into a dedicated taskforce and support for victims will bolster our ongoing efforts to tackle this issue.
“We are determined that there will be nowhere to hide for criminals who exploit children and damage our communities both in West Yorkshire and across our borders.”
