Urban drug dealing gangs are moving into rural towns and coastal
communities, where they take over properties - including housing
managed by councils - and establish a base.
These gangs use a drug dealing model, known as 'County Lines',
and generally coerce a vulnerable person, such as a drug user, or
those with mental or physical health problems, to allow them to use
their property as a base. These vulnerable people are then further
exploited by the gangs to sell drugs on their behalf.
To help safeguard vulnerable people, the Home Office and
CrimeStoppers are working with ARCH and the Local Government
Association (LGA) to increase awareness among local authority staff
of the signs to spot if a tenant is a victim of these criminal
gangs.
The signs to spot which may indicate a vulnerable tenant has had
their property taken over by a county lines gang are:
- A tenant starts receiving more visitors to their property
- They receive visitors at unusual times of the day or night
- A tenant's curtains or blinds are almost always shut
- A tenant stops leaving their house
- Suspicious smells coming from the property
- An increase in anti-social behaviour in and around the
property
Housing managers and enforcement officers may also encounter a
vulnerable child in a house who is involved in county lines
activity. They might exhibit some of these signs:
- The child might seem unfamiliar with the area or not have a
local accent
- They have relationships with controlling, older individuals or
gang association
- Suspicions of self-harm, physical assault or unexplained
injuries
- They deliberately avoid authority figures such as police
officers
The Home Office has produced a guidance booklet and posters to help housing management staff
understand what county lines is and recognise the signs to spot
potential victims. Staff should report concerns in line with their
organisation's safeguarding policy.