Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire | WYPCC

Experts in County Lines Crime Come Together at Event

30 July 2019

The Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit hosted an event to bring experts in county lines crime together to see how to best tackle it.

Detective Inspector Andy Farrell and Chloe Frogett organised the event, held on Thursday 25 July at West Yorkshire Police's Carr Gate training and development centre.

The West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson opened it.

Other organisations represented were:

  • West Yorkshire Police
  • West Midlands Police
  • Humberside Police
  • The National Police Chiefs Council
  • St Giles Trust
  • North Lincolnshire Council
  • Crimestoppers

D/I Farrell said: "County lines is a national issue affecting police forces across England and Wales. No single police force can or should look to deal with the crime - it is a cross border crime which requires a cross border response.

"It is important that police forces and partners respond to it - this requires officers in the heart of the community making a difference but also those at the strategic level sharing best practice - that was what this conference was about."

Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), said: "County lines essentially boils down to the exploitation of vulnerable people, something which we stand steadfast against.

"Events such as this one are really key in building the awareness of these issues as well as a joined up partnership approach which tightens the net around these callous criminals who are causing harm to individuals and communities.

"We need to ensure we are working together to safeguarding those that are vulnerable whilst holding the people behind these abuses to account through targeted robust law enforcement activity."