News & Updates
NCLCC Newsletter – April 2026
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NCLCC Newsletter – April 2026
Welcome to the April 2026 edition of the NCLCC Newsletter
In this edition, we’re pleased to share a wide range of updates from across the network, including news from both police teams and our partners.
This month, you’ll find a summary of outcomes from the recent County Lines Intensification Week, details of our new Crimestoppers national reporting campaign, and the launch of the NCLCC’s new podcast series exploring key safeguarding themes and best practice.
We also bring you quickfire news from forces across the country, highlighting excellent operational results and safeguarding achievements, along with details of upcoming training opportunities you and your teams can get involved in.
Remember, you can navigate to different sections by using the icon in the right-hand corner.
We hope you find this issue informative and useful as we continue our collective efforts to protect communities and disrupt County Lines networks.
Please take a moment to read the updates below. If you’d like to submit an article or case study for a future edition, contact us at:
Thank you,
Commander Paul Brogden, NPCC Lead for County Lines
DSU Dan Mitchell, Head of NCLCC
This NCLCC newsletter can be shared amongst police forces, key partners and safeguarding professionals.
Key Updates
County Lines Intensification Week
More than 2,000 arrests, 335 drug lines shut down, and almost 800 children safeguarded during week‑long operation.
A coordinated national crackdown has seen police forces across the UK dismantle hundreds of County Lines networks, seize large quantities of drugs and weapons, and safeguard vulnerable adults and children exploited by organised crime groups.
The operation, led by the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), brought together police forces and regional organised crime units for a week of targeted enforcement and safeguarding activity between 2–8 March. The results mark one of the most successful intensification periods to date.
County Lines networks are organised criminal groups that transport and supply illegal drugs across the country using dedicated phone lines. These groups frequently exploit children and vulnerable adults—using coercion, threats, and violence—to carry out their activities.
Across the week, police activity resulted in:
- 2,180 arrests
- 335 County Lines shut down
- Over £1.5 million in cash seized
- 180kg+ of Class A drugs recovered, including crack cocaine, heroin, and cocaine
- 10,500+ wraps of Class A drugs seized
- Approximately 15,000 cannabis plants recovered
- 377 bladed weapons including knives, machetes, axes, and swords removed from the streets
- 115 additional weapons such as knuckledusters, batons, hammers, and a crossbow seized
- 121 firearms and ammunition recovered
- 23 dangerous dogs seized
Protecting those exploited by County Lines offenders remained a central focus. Activity over the week included:
- 683 visits to suspected cuckooed addresses
- 1,348 individuals safeguarded, including 252 girls under 18 and 544 boys under 18
Specialist teams also targeted missing children linked to County Lines exploitation, worked to disrupt grooming and recruitment activity, and collaborated with local agencies and charities to build long‑term community resilience.
Commander Paul Brogden, national policing lead for County Lines and gangs, said: “Tackling County Lines is a top priority for UK policing. These criminals are violent, exploit vulnerable people, and cause serious harm to communities.
“During last week’s intensification activity, policing shut down 335 drug lines, made over 2,000 arrests, and seized over 180kg of Class A drugs and hundreds of dangerous weapons. This united effort sends a clear message to offenders.
“This work forms a core part of our National County Lines Policing Strategy to prevent exploitation, protect vulnerable children and adults, and pursue violent offenders involved in drugs, modern slavery, knife and weapons crime.
“We continue to work closely with partners such as Catch22 and the Children’s Society to prevent young people being drawn into high‑harm criminality and to support those already exploited.
“Although this intensification week has concluded, our commitment has not. We remain relentless in targeting those involved in County Lines criminality.”
A snapshot of County Lines activity from The North East Regional Organised…
New Crimestoppers County Lines Landing Page Launched in Partnership with NCLCC
A new 12‑month Crimestoppers County Lines landing page is now live, developed in partnership with the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC).
This forms a key part of our national strategy to increase community reporting, safeguard children and vulnerable adults, and disrupt the organised criminal networks behind County Lines exploitation.
🔗 Landing Page: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/get-involved/campaigns/speak-up- to-stop-county-lines-and-exploitation
Forces are encouraged to proactively drive reporting through the landing page and QR code to maintain a consistent national intelligence pathway.
Campaign Assets Available to Forces
Forces can now access:
- Three Crimestoppers County Lines comms images
- A direct link to the County Lines reporting landing page
- A QR code directing users straight to the reporting form
Monitoring & Reporting
Campaign reporting will follow and include:
- Traffic to the landing page
- Date, contact method, and sanitised details of actionable reports
- Comparative analysis between pre‑campaign and during‑campaign data
This will help build a national picture of reporting behaviours and campaign effectiveness.
Forces needing additional materials, briefings or locally branded versions of campaign assets can request support directly from the NCLCC.
New NCLCC Podcast Launches
The new NCLCC Podcast is dedicated to deepening understanding, strengthening professional practice, and shining a light on the realities of County Lines and criminal exploitation.
Produced by the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), this series is designed for police officers, safeguarding leads, frontline practitioners, and anyone working to protect children, young people, and vulnerable adults from exploitation.
In Episode 1, we chat to Zoe from Catch22 to explore the complex issues of missing from home episodes, the changing County Lines landscape and how the charity supports young people to break free from the grip of County Lines gangs.
Each episode brings you expert knowledge, frontline experiences, and practical insights from across the partnership landscape. You’ll hear from police professionals, safeguarding specialists, youth workers, health partners, and others who play a vital role in tackling County Lines and supporting those affected.
Together, we’ll explore emerging trends, share good practice, unpack real-world challenges, and highlight the collaborative work making a difference across the UK.
Click on the video above to listen, or head to: NCLCC Podcast – Episode 1: County Lines and Missing from Home with Catch22
Join Our WhatsApp Channel!
Join our WhatsApp Channel designed specifically for communities and partners.
You will receive updates about all things County Lines – from training opportunities and awareness sessions to public campaigns and the latest actions taking place across our network.
👉 Follow the NCLCC WhatsApp Channel today and stay connected with the latest developments, opportunities, and impact stories from across our communities: https:// whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAxRn4GE56ihUUn2x1C
Quickfire News & Best Practice
Forces Deliver Major Disruptions Against County Lines and Exploitation
Kyum Raham, 23, was jailed for five years and seven months. He was also given…
Wiltshire Secures Strong Slavery & Trafficking Prevention Order Following County Lines Investigation
Wiltshire Police have achieved an excellent result following the investigation of a County Lines controller who was sentenced to 5 years and 7 months for supplying Class A and B drugs. During the case, DC Barlow identified that the exploitation and recruitment of children was a clear feature of the offender’s operation.
Seeking specialist input, DC Barlow consulted the NCLCC Continuous Improvement Team and Orders Expert DC James Rudge, and successfully secured a 10‑year Slavery & Trafficking Prevention Order (STPO).
This outcome adds to the growing number of forces recognising the value of STPOs in disrupting exploiters and protecting both current and future victims. DC Barlow’s work sends a clear message: Wiltshire is a hostile environment for those seeking to exploit children.
Full story: https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/news/wiltshire/news/2026/january/ man-who-trafficked-three-teenagers-jailed/
Humberside Op Kinetic Delivers Major Disruption Against Grimsby Drug Line
A significant success for Humberside Police’s Op Kinetic OCG Team has seen 11 people charged in relation to drug supply in the Grimsby area. The investigation – supported by Home Office surge funding – escalated with urgency following a number of suspected overdoses linked to the line.
DI Kelly praised the team’s commitment as officers worked long hours to swiftly arrest the primary suspects and identify those operating higher up the chain. In total, 24 arrests were made, uncovering a sophisticated supply network using dangerous adulterants within the drugs.
Several children were safeguarded as a direct result of the operation. The speed and determination shown by the team demonstrate a deep understanding of the threat County Lines poses, and their work has likely saved lives while improving safety and quality of life for affected communities.
Op Thunderball: Multi‑Agency Collaboration Leads to Fraud Action Against County Lines Suspects
Operation Thunderball has delivered an excellent example of multi‑agency disruption work in the North East, focusing on offenders linked to County Lines and wider serious organised crime. The NE ROCU Disruptions Team identified individuals involved in criminality who were also claiming Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) benefits.
Through detailed research and partnership working, the team identified 14 individuals suspected of fraudulently claiming benefits. Working closely with the DWP, investigators gathered evidence leading to prosecutions.
The operation demonstrates the far‑reaching consequences of involvement in serious organised crime. It also highlights how government agencies are working together to ensure offenders are held to account through every available means, not only for drug supply and exploitation but for associated offending that enables criminal activity.
‘Crossing the Line’ Film Screening Sparks Discussion on Child Exploitation and County Lines
A special screening event at Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds brought together researchers, practitioners and policymakers to explore new insights into child exploitation and County Lines.
The event showcased a practitioner‑focused film created by lead investigator Dr Laura Bainbridge (University of Leeds School of Law) alongside Dr Amy Loughery (University of Leeds) and Dr Chris Devany (University of York).
The film follows the story of Alfie Parker, a teenager caught up in exploitation and County Lines drug trafficking. Framed through a multi‑agency meeting, practitioners assess Alfie’s risks and vulnerabilities—while the film shifts the focus to Alfie’s own voice, highlighting how fear, manipulation and limited support contributed to his exploitation.
By challenging the notion of the “complex case” and addressing assumptions professionals may hold, the film encourages viewers to reconsider how systems respond to young people at risk. The panel discussion that followed explored the emerging themes and the importance of centring the lived experiences of exploited children in safeguarding practice.
Resources are available here: Crossing the Line: Rethinking the ‘Alpha Victim’ – Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre
NCLCC feature in dedicated podcast episode
The NCLCC’s DI Adam Norton also contributed to the wider conversation through a dedicated podcast episode exploring the research and film. Adam discussed the NCLCC’s national role in County Lines safeguarding, the importance of consistent practice across forces, and how learning from research like this helps strengthen early intervention and multi‑agency responses.
To listen to the Podcast, hit play below or head to: Stream Podcast – Crossing the Line: Rethinking the ‘Alpha Victim by Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre | Listen online for free on SoundCloud
Click the View button to load the embedded content
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National Conferences highlight united front in Safeguarding and County Lines Prevention
Tap to flip through this stack.
Over recent weeks, the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) has delivered more than ten conferences across the country, bringing together practitioners, police colleagues, academics, and third‑sector partners with a shared commitment to protecting vulnerable children and young people and tackling County Lines exploitation.
From Westminster to the North West, each conference created space for honest, informed and collaborative discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Across all locations, attendees heard powerful and thought‑provoking contributions covering relationship‑based practice with young people, substance misuse, early intervention, and the importance of embedding prevention alongside enforcement.
Sessions led by organisations including The Children’s Society, Change Grow Live, Fearless.org, Missing People, and a number of academic specialists reinforced the need for trauma‑informed, holistic responses that place safeguarding at the heart of our collective efforts.
Bringing together perspectives from enforcement, disruption, safeguarding, and lived experience was one of the strongest features of these events. Time and again, discussions highlighted how much more effective our national response becomes when agencies, practitioners, communities, and services collaborate with shared purpose.
We were pleased to welcome contributions from partners across the sector, including Catch22’s County Lines teams, who shared valuable frontline insights and learning.
The NCLCC would like to extend sincere thanks to every organisation and individual who took the time to attend, contribute and share expertise. These conferences demonstrated the strength, dedication and collective ambition of the safeguarding and policing community. We remain committed to continuing this vital collaboration as we work together to protect children, support victims of exploitation, and relentlessly pursue those involved in County Lines criminality.
Take a look at our Training & Events section below for more opportunities to take part.
Creative competition empowers young voices against County Lines
Award‑winning author and Honorary NSPCC Council Member Christina Gabbitas is inviting young people across the UK to take part in a powerful national creative writing competition.
The initiative – supported by policing partners, youth services, victims’ voices and the NCLCC – encourages young people aged 12 to 21 to express the realities and dangers of County Lines through poetry and song lyrics. The aim is simple but vital: to give young people a platform to speak out about issues affecting their peers, including cuckooing, debt bondage, missing episodes, and knife crime.
Christina, who has delivered county lines education sessions across North and South Yorkshire during County Lines Intensification Week, has seen first‑hand how urgently young people need safe spaces to share their experiences.
“I’ve been working on my projects since 2019 and can’t stress enough the need for more education in schools,” she says. “I hear far too many horrific stories. Prevention is far better than trying to pick up the pieces.”
This competition builds on her long‑standing partnership with the NCLCC, including speaking at our conferences and supporting national efforts to strengthen children’s voices. A diverse judging panel, featuring police and NCLCC representatives, victims, youth workers, and social workers, will help champion and judge the work submitted.
Christina is personally funding the prizes to further encourage participation:
- £500 for first place
- £250 for second place
- £150 for third place
Outstanding entries will also have the chance to be published in the next national awareness book, Listen Up 2!, offering young writers a public platform for their messages.
The competition is open until 30 June, and we’re asking all partners, schools, parents and community organisations to help spread the word. By empowering young people to create, reflect and speak out, we can build stronger prevention pathways and ensure their voices are heard.
To support their understanding, students can view Christina’s stories “Missing” and “Trapped in County Lines” here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@christinagabbitaswriting
British Transport Police deliver major results in tackling County Lines-Linked Violence
British Transport Police (BTP) have delivered a series of strong results during the first few months of the year, reinforcing the clear connection between County Lines activity and serious violence. Their proactive policing has led to multiple arrests, significant drug seizures and the removal of dangerous weapons from public spaces.
Below is a snapshot of recent activity:
- West Ham: Officers recovered cash, cannabis, weighing scales, white powder, multiple phones and a Rambo‑style knife.
- Ashford: Seizures included cannabis, two handguns, a rifle and a bag of pills awaiting testing.
- Stoke: A 17‑year‑old child was found with cannabis, a Rambo‑style knife and three mobile phones.
- Milton Keynes: A machete was recovered during a stop search.
- Three Bridges: A male was arrested for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs (cocaine and heroin). A follow‑up warrant led to the seizure of five bladed weapons and drug paraphernalia.
- Sittingbourne: A 17‑year‑old child was located with a weapon and crack cocaine.
- Stratford: Officers detained a 17‑year‑old child travelling with an adult; the child was in possession of two large swords and cannabis.
- Luton & Bedford (Op Blume): A proactive operation resulted in 13 arrests, along with seizures of heroin, crack cocaine, cannabis, a samurai sword and an imitation firearm.
These incidents highlight a stark reality: County Lines drug supply is intrinsically linked to violence, coercion and the carrying of weapons. Many of the dangerous items recovered were being transported through busy public areas, posing a significant risk to passengers and staff.
BTP continue to set the standard not only in identifying criminality and vulnerability, but also in pursuing exploiters using modern slavery legislation. In January, under Operation Breamish, another suspect was charged with Modern Slavery offences. This follows the conviction of a 29‑year‑old linked to the same investigation, who received 7 years and 6 months’ imprisonment, with a concurrent 7‑year sentence for two counts of Modern Slavery.
BTP’s ongoing efforts demonstrate the importance of robust enforcement, early intervention, and a relentless focus on protecting vulnerable young people from criminal exploitation.
Training & Events
NCLCC County Lines Awareness Webinars
A new series of NCLCC County Lines Awareness webinars have now been planned for the next quarter. These sessions are open to all professionals working in safeguarding roles, including charities and voluntary organisations. The sessions cover:
- The County Lines model of drug supply
- The exploitation of children and vulnerable adults within County Lines
- Indicators of exploitation
- Vulnerability factors that may offenders may seek to exploit
- Case studies
- Signposting to resources and support
To register, follow the links below:
Wednesday 29 April, 11:30-13:00 – https://events.teams.microsoft.com/ event/920dcb8c-4a46-42cd- b1fb-0bade35dcc16@0ce21128-57c4-4758-9f39-69bc679e12bf
Thursday 28 May, 14:00-15:30 – https://events.teams.microsoft.com/ event/4d4e4527-21b9-4097-855b- a1223fd1431a@0ce21128-57c4-4758-9f39-69bc679e12bf
June – Date and time will be provided when confirmed.
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If you have any suggestions or news stories for the next edition, email us on: [email protected]