Young people in Bolton were taught how to spot the warning signs of criminal exploitation as part of a national week to tackle county lines drug dealing.
Greater Manchester Police held a county lines intensification week to target county lines offendes, remove dangerous drugs and weapons from the street as well as safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
As part of the week, talks were held with pupils at Mount St Josephs School in Farnworth, using specialist materials created by Pol-Ed and the Trapped Campaign to raise awareness of round the methods used by County Lines to exploit young people.
The informative talks are designed to enable young people to spot the warning signs early on and gain the confidence to speak up using anonymous sites, such as Fearless.org, to give them a voice.
Young children and vulnerable adults are often groomed to move and deal drugs in any locality. Grooming is often followed by extreme violence and coercive behaviour.
Numerous safeguarding referrals were made for 14 individuals across Greater Manchester that were encountered during the week of action.
Throughout the week officers conducted a total of 30 warrants, resulting in 40 arrests across Greater Manchester, with 20 active drugs lines closed down.
More than £34,000 in cash and a substantial amount of class A and class B drugs were seized.
These included heroin, amphetamines, cocaine and cannabis.
Mobile phones, weapons including stun guns, zombie knives, crossbows, and an axe were also confiscated. Electric bikes, designer goods and high-value electronic devices were also recovered.
County Lines is the use of dedicated phone lines to deal drugs from one location to another. It often exploits children and vulnerable adults, who are groomed and coerced into moving, storing and selling drugs.
County Lines teams use the Ps as a strategy to tackle organised criminals trafficking drugs and safeguard vulnerable people: Prevent, Protect, Prepare and Pursue.
County Lines officers and partners work relentlessly to pursue offenders.
During the week, officers seized cannabis with an estimated value of between £402,600 and £1,006,500 following an early morning warrant at an industrial unit on Gardner Street, Pendleton, Salford.
Inside the property, they found a substantial cannabis grow spread across multiple rooms, along with equipment used to power and maintain the operation.
The electricity supply had also been dangerously bypassed, posing a serious fire risk to neighbouring properties.
Six men aged between 20 and 42, were arrested on suspicion of production of cannabis and abstracting electricity, with five charged and one bailed with conditions.
Detective Sergeant Gareth Bannister said: "Cannabis farms of this scale are often linked to wider organised criminal networks. They bring significant risks to local communities, including fire hazards, exploitation, and violence associated with criminal activity.
"This discovery reflects the force’s ongoing commitment to tackling organised crime in Salford and beyond.
“Operations like this are a direct result of intelligence from our communities and the hard work of our officers. Cannabis farms are not harmless; they fund organised crime groups who cause real harm in our neighbourhoods. We will continue to pursue those involved and take every opportunity to disrupt their activity.”
Police also raised awareness in communities by building resilience against the harms of County Lines through various community engagement visits.
Detective Inspector John Schofield from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: “We have had a very busy and successful County Lines Intensification Week, with various lines disrupted thanks to the warrants we have executed.
“Intelligence gathered from the community played a vital role in us being able to conduct this activity, which saw 30 warrants, resulting in 40 arrests and 20 drug lines closed down across Greater Manchester. This week’s action is a powerful example of our commitment to dismantle organised crime in our region.
“Working with partners meant we were also able to deliver a comprehensive prevent programme so we could engage with young people in Greater Manchester. Drugs gangs that target and exploit children are child abusers, and we are increasingly looking to prosecute offenders through the Modern Slavery Act. Young people being exploited by drugs gangs are not criminals, and we are here to work with partners to protect them and prevent further harm.
“If you are concerned about crime in your area, call us on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Information can also be shared anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Deputy Mayor of Safer and Stronger Communities, Kate Green said: "County lines activity brings significant harm to our communities. It fuels the supply of dangerous drugs while exploiting children and vulnerable adults who are often groomed, coerced and threatened into criminal activity. That is why tackling this type of organised crime is a key priority for partners across Greater Manchester.
“Through Programme Challenger, we are bringing together policing, local authorities, schools, and safeguarding services to pursue those responsible, close down drug lines and protect the young people and vulnerable adults who are being exploited.
“This work reflects the priorities set out in our Police and Crime Plan, which places a strong focus on preventing exploitation, tackling serious and organised crime and supporting victims. It also supports the ambitions of the Greater Manchester Strategy, which commits us to building safer, fairer and more resilient communities across our city region.
“The activity during this week of action shows what can be achieved when partners work together with communities. We will continue to take robust action against those responsible for county lines activity while making sure people at risk of exploitation get the support and protection they need."
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