Drug dealing is not a victimless crime

Wiltshire is a beautiful county. Sweeping landscapes and ancient tourist attractions, coupled with historic market towns and centres of engineering excellence.

We are lucky to live and work here.

As the county's Police and Crime Commissioner, though, I have to delve deeper and get to grips with the real problems that are affecting our residents. I have to be aware of the pockets of crime, burglary hotspots and areas that are being targeted and exploited by criminal gangs.

We are not unusual. The picture in Wiltshire is being replicated up and down the country, which is why I have pledged to help prevent crime, keep people safe and protect the most vulnerable people in society.

As you may be aware, alongside Wiltshire Police we recently launched our #BeyondTheBeat campaign. We are aiming to show you the demands on police time and resources that you wouldn't ordinarily see.

It is time to shine a light on the harm that is often hidden from the community and it's time to talk about the complex role the police have in trying to tackle the traditional, and modern, threats the public face.

This week we are focusing on alcohol and drug abuse.

One aspect of the illegal drugs trade is known as County Lines. It refers to the transportation of Class A drugs by large gangs based in major cities into rural towns and cities in counties like Wiltshire.

They operate 24/7, using dedicated mobile phone lines and are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move, store or deal drugs. They regularly use intimidation and violence and will continue to operate in Wiltshire while there is a profitable market to serve.

This form of crime in which drug dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person in order to use it as a base for dealing is known as cuckooing. 

A few weeks ago, I spent time with two of our dedicated crime teams for County Lines. From the briefings at 8am right through to the moment I left, I was struck by how much the teams cared for the vulnerable people they came across, alongside the core role of shutting down places that were being used by criminals as a base for drug dealing.

I joined officers visiting premises which had been served closure orders. These are flats and houses targeted by drug gangs and where the occupiers, who are usually vulnerable with drug and/or alcohol dependencies, are "cuckooed" by drug dealers.

Many people believe that drug dealing is a victimless crime, that is anything but the case.

We visited one lady in a block of flats who welcomed the closure order. It had been in place for a while, and she did want to change the conditions to allow another friend to visit. What was remarkable was the interaction between the officers and the lady concerned. She was vulnerable and they were supportive, which is what the orders are there to be. Premises with orders are regularly visited by both the Dedicated Crime Teams and the local community teams.

From the vulnerable person having their addiction and property exploited to the addict who steals to fund a habit, there are always victims.

County Lines are everyone's responsibility because the reality is that the police cannot tackle this alone.

After another couple of checks we went to the flat of another drug user, but one which was not subject to a closure order. The flat was above a takeaway food outlet. It took some time for the door to be answered. The flat was occupied by a young lad and his mother. But there was also another lad, who refused to say who he was, just a forename. By the chair he had a 12in knife and a chopper. He appeared to be 'cuckooing' and was arrested and taken to Melksham custody for questioning.

One can see how someone with an addiction could be tempted to offer a base to out-of-town dealers, rather than have to score on the streets; this creates an "in house" supply. Their vulnerability is being exploited in the "business model" of County Lines.

We need to draw upon the strength of communities and partners to play an equal part, especially across prevention and safeguarding people who are vulnerable to crime and criminal exploitation

The Force will continue to work with local authorities to reduce the harm and prevent the crime caused by alcohol and substance misuse.

But I would also urge the residents of Wiltshire and Swindon to help us combat drug supply - the police often rely on information from the public to build up an intelligence picture.

Please continue to help by reporting any information to 101 (or 999 in an emergency).

Join in the conversation on our social media channels using #BeyondTheBeat or #CountyLines