Gangs and County Lines Catherine Bennett Gangs and

Gangs and County Lines Catherine Bennett Gangs and County Lines Manager, Suffolk County Council

Gangs, Criminal Exploitation and County Lines

Learning outcomes • To provide you with clear definitions to be able to confidently identify criminal exploitation and have an overview of how county lines operate • To enhance your knowledge of the recruitment and exploitation of children, young people and vulnerable adults that can happen within gangs and groups • To enhance your knowledge of the risk factors that can lead to children to being exploited by gangs or groups • To enhance your knowledge of the role of females • To provide you with key messages from the developing strategy in relation to this concern both nationally and locally

A relatively durable, predominantly streetbased group of young people who (5) are in conflict with other, similar, gangs (1) see themselves (and are seen by others) as a discernible group, • (Dying to Belong, 2009) What is a gang? (4) have some form of identifying structural feature and; (2) engage in a range of criminal activity and violence, (3) identify with or lay claim over territory,

Criminal exploitation 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.

Cont. • Can affect any child or young person (male or female) under the age of 18 years; • Can affect any vulnerable adult over the age of 18 years; • Can still be exploitation even if the activity appears consensual; • Can involve force and/or enticement-based methods of compliance and is often accompanied by violence or threats of violence; • Can be perpetrated by individuals or groups, males or females, and young people or adults; and • Is typified by some form of power imbalance in favour of those perpetrating the exploitation. Whilst age may be the most obvious, this power imbalance can also be due to a range of other factors including gender, cognitive ability, physical strength, status, and access to economic or other resources.

What is a County Line? The name ‘County Line’ refers to the phone number (line) used by urban gangs to control and facilitate drug dealing in more rural locations.

Who is vulnerable? • Children as young as 12 years old being exploited or moved by gangs to courier drugs out of their local area; 15 -16 years is the most common age range • Both males and females being exploited • White British children being targeted because gangs perceive they are more likely to evade police detection but a person of any ethnicity or nationality may be exploited • The use of social media to make initial contact with children and young people • Class A drug users being targeted so that gangs can takeover their homes (known as ‘cuckooing’).

Language Trap House Trapping Trapper/trapster Pushing Food P’s White/Brown Burner Peng Bare Nitty Pagan Jakes Undys

Children’s Society

Paul Mc. Kenzie

Drug suppliers Hierarchy Runners Drug users

County lines are operating in Suffolk The number of county lines operating in Suffolk varies at any give time The Suffolk picture Two known gangs J Block and Nacton (Also known as the 3’s) Drill music We are seeing an increase in the number of young children linked to gang related offending and county lines.

Gang recruitment is varied and unrelenting. Urban gangs are funded by drug dealing and as such recruitment is an important part of the business. Mid level gang members are tasked with this role. Gang recruitment Gang members have been documented to hand out business cards outside schools and pupil referral units offering cash for drug running. Gang members have also been documented buying gifts as part of the grooming process. Recruitment also takes place in shopping centres and fast food outlets however the schools still remain the main recruiting locations. Gangs identify vulnerability and take advantage of this. Vulnerability comes in many different forms.

Who could become involved in a gang?

Strongest risk factors that predict both youth violence and gang involvement DOMAIN OVERLAPPING RISK FACTORS Individual Hyperactivity Lack of guilt and empathy Physical violence/aggression Positive attitude towards delinquency Previous criminal activity Family poverty Family violence and abuse Broken home/change in the primary carer Anti-social parents School Low academic performance Low commitment to school Frequent truancy Peer group Delinquent peers Commitment to delinquent peers Peer rejection Community Neighbourhood disorganisation Exposure to drugs

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 / anxious to enter certain areas What are the signs of involvement? Expressing aggressive or intimidating views towards other groups of people ( some of whom may have been friends in the past) Multiple mobile phones / frequent change of phone number / constant calls, texts Frequently missing or missing for periods of time Travelling around a lot – train/bus tickets / seen in taxi’s regularly / being seen in cars (often hire cars), possibly with unknown individuals, on a regular basis In possession of large amounts of unexplained money High value items (including clothing, electrical items) Drug related or violent offending involving weapons

A person who is affected by gang activity or county line activity can be at risk of significant harm. Why are we concerned? • Exploitation to commit crimes such as selling drugs, stealing phones etc. • Retaliatory violence. • Psychological harm due to the trauma experienced and witnessed. • 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.

Females • 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 sexual exploitation 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

Music – Drill Threats Social Media • You. Tube • Whats. App • Snapchat Witness intimidation

What you may see Someone who appears scared or uncomfortable in the presence of someone they have arrived with. There may be a imbalance of power. Stab wounds Beatings Burns Sexual exploitation Does their account raise any concerns? Does the story match the injury?

Any questions so far?

Modern Day Slavery – National Referral Mechanism (NRM) NRM – FRAMEWORK FOR IDENTIFYING VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING INDICATORS NEED CONSENT FROM ADULTS VICTIMS – DUTY TO NOTIFY HOME OFFICE FIRST RESPONDERS INCLUDE POLICE AND LA

National Response • • NCA reports National County Lines Co-ordination Centre Police enforcement on gangs Home Office – Serious Violence Strategy

Suffolk Response One Vison • End the impact from Urban Street University report Ex- NCA Consultant Gangs (USG) and 'County Lines' (CL) dominated drug markets in Ipswich and Suffolk communities, preventing exploitation of the young and vulnerable, anti-social behaviour, associated violence and weapons crime. Multi-agency Strategic and Tactical Action Plans.

URBAN STREET GANGS AND COUNTY LINES NETWORKS YOUNG AND VULNERABLE THE COMMUNITY SAP/TAP DRUG USERS RESPONSE PARTNERSHIP

MAT Multi-agency panel Police Gangs Prevention Team Scorpion team Serious crime team Dependant drug users – strand of plan

Further information

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• Early Intervention Foundations work on risk and protective factors and effective interventions for tackling • County Lines Violence, Exploitation & Drug Supply 2017 – National Briefing Report • Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: County lines Further information • Serious Violence Strategy • Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines • MASH & adult safeguarding • NRM • Suffolk police • Suffolk Safeguarding Board

Useful contacts Modern Slavery helpline 0800 121 700 MASH Professionals Consultation line 03456 061 499