AS PART of a national crackdown on county lines drug networks, 52 people have been arrested across Hampshire in a week including eight in Basingstoke.

The weeklong operation also saw officers seizing 46 mobile phones, £6,854 in cash and 14 weapons; as well as safeguarding vulnerable people at risk of high harm.

The targeted activity, co-ordinated by the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), which is jointly run by the NCA and NPCC, was led by police forces and Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs).

Nationally more than 700 people were arrested in connection with county lines drugs activity.

Specialist officers carried out warrants at properties linked to drugs and pre-planned operations to disrupt and deter offender from county lines activity between 7 and 11 October, seizing £6,854 in cash, 46 mobile phones and 14 weapons - including a machete and two samurai swords.

In Basingstoke four warrants were issued with eight arrests made, with one vulnerable supported by the authorities.

During the operation the police found that text messages were sent to hundreds of suspected drug users on four drug deal lines, two of which believed to be operating in the Portsmouth area, were shut down, as part of the week of action.

The messages directed users to support agencies while also making dealers aware we knew what they were using the number for.

In addition, properties were visited during the week which were thought to have either been previously cuckooed or believed to be at high risk of being cuckooed in the future.

Detective Superintendent Scott Mackechnie, who leads the response to drug-related harm at Hampshire Constabulary, said: "Tackling county lines and the misery it causes to our communities is an absolute priority and these results demonstrate the power of a coordinated response with our partner agencies to a complex problem that we're seeing in every area of the UK, not just in Hampshire.

“We play our part alongside staff working within health, social care, education and commissioned services to try to stop young people being drawn into county lines and keep watch for signs that young people they work with may have fallen prey to a county lines gang.

“Youngsters who suddenly have new and unaffordable belongings, go missing a lot, have friendships with older people or have unexplained injuries are all said to be possible victims.

“Supply networks are responsible for high levels of violence in addition to the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable adults and children. We all have a part to play in diverting children or vulnerable adults from getting involved in the first place.”

National the crackdown managed to seize nearly £500,000 worth of drugs including £253,200 worth of cocaine, £100,170 worth of crack cocaine and £72,670 worth of heroin.

Vulnerable individuals – often children - are exposed to physical, mental and sexual abuse, and in some instances will be trafficked to areas a long way from home as part of the network’s drug dealing business.

County Lines networks are now being told they will be treated as child traffickers, not just drug dealers, as law enforcement increasingly use modern slavery legislation to prevent the exploitation of young people.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for County Lines, deputy assistant commissioner Duncan Ball, said: “During the past week we have made further strides in tackling and dismantling the activities of County Lines gangs.

“The large number of arrests and weapons seized is testament to the joined-up work between law enforcement and our partners.

“We will not treat the criminals who run these lines just as drug dealers. We will work tirelessly to prosecute them for these offences but also, where we have the evidence, we will seek to prosecute them for child trafficking under modern slavery laws to reflect the devastating nature of their exploitation of young and vulnerable people.

“We need the public to continue helping us with information or concerns they have. This can be done anonymously through Crimestoppers.”

While the revenue generated by individual lines will vary, many will generate around £3,000 per day, and in some cases, this can rise to around £5,000 daily.

During the week of intense work officers also worked closely with British Transport Police (BTP) on joint operations at train stations in Basingstoke and Southampton.

Meanwhile, talks were also given to schools and partner agencies to raise awareness of county lines across the region.

Temporary Superintendent Mark Lynch, tactical lead for drug-related harm, said: “We are committed to dismantling these networks and protect the young and vulnerable people who are exploited by criminals and are subject to violence, fear and intimidation.

“This week will have been successful in disrupting the violent crime that is inherent in county lines activity, with conflict between competing drugs supply networks and the associated violence used to control vulnerable youngsters and dealers. Our policing activity has intervened in dealers taking over properties of vulnerable people to deal drugs known as cuckooing.

“The public have the power to stop drug dealing networks causing misery in their communities by being the eyes and ears of our streets and spotting the signs of county lines and cuckooing.”

The National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), which is jointly led by the NCA and the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC), is responsible for mapping out the threat from county lines nationally and prioritising action against the most significant perpetrators.

Anyone with concerns about County Lines are asked to contact Hampshire police on 101 or leave information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

If you are a young person who is worried about being involved in County Lines, or knows someone who is, you can speak to an adult and let them know how you feel. You can also contact www.fearless.org who allow you to pass on information about crime anonymously.