Money to tackle county lines and child exploitation in Suffolk

A £1.4m fund has been awarded to a community initiative in Suffolk to help tackle county lines and child exploitation.

The Safer Stronger Communities Board (SSCB) in the county works to prevent young people and vulnerable adults being drawn into criminal exploitation.

In the two years leading to April 2023, the SSCB said it helped close down 20 county lines.

Board chair Bobby Bennett said criminal exploitation was a "constant threat".

The money would be used between 2024 and 2027, the SSCB said.

Council leaders from across the county unanimously approved the funding during Friday's Suffolk Public Sector Leaders group.

The SSCB collaborates with organisations including the police, NHS, Probation Service and community safety partnerships, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"As much as we would like it to, [criminal exploitation] is not going away and it remains a constant threat to our young people, vulnerable adults, and to our communities," said Ms Bennett, who is also a Conservative Suffolk County Council cabinet member.

"It continues to evolve and it feels quite relentless at times — any child can be groomed or forced to carry weapons and drugs."

County lines is the term used to describe the involvement of organised criminal networks and street gangs in moving illegal drugs.

Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner, Conservative Tim Passmore, stressed the importance of this funding in light of an "absolutely devastating" new drug, nitazine.

He said the drug, which was believed to be 500 times stronger than morphine, was "damned dangerous".

"We have made huge progress but my goodness me, the threat still exists," Mr Passmore continued.

In the two years leading to April 2023, the SSCB said it contributed to more than 100 county line warrants being undertaken, resulting in 152 people being arrested.

During the same time, the SSCB said it assisted with more than 500 arrests relating to organised crime and the seizing of more than £1.8m in drugs and weapons.

Independent John Ward, acting leader at Babergh District Council, said it was essential for the SSCB to continue its efforts in making sure children "do not slip through the net".

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