Join 95+ delegates including senior speakers from the National Crime Agency, West Midlands Police, Northumbria Police, Merseyside Police and more.
Only a few places remain for Westminster Insight’s timely, biannual County Lines Conference on 30th January 2023. Don’t miss the opportunity to join colleagues across Police, education, youth services, health, housing and social services.
The rising cost of living crisis is being used by organised criminals to exploit those struggling to make ends meet and expand recruitment for County Lines. Understand the latest research into how criminals are adapting their strategies to avoid detection. Gain an insider’s insight into the mechanisms of drug lines and how to provide effective exit strategies.
County Lines Police Force Leads from three different areas will share the latest tactics to effectively detect and dismantle county drug lines and prevent drug transportation. Develop robust information-sharing practices to improve prevention and bring offenders to justice. Hear from frontline services working with young people about how to identify exploitation and intervene at an early opportunity to divert young people away from gangs and prevent cuckooing.
A spotlight session will focus on safeguarding looked after children who are disproportionately targeted by County Lines gangs. Explore the realities and consequences of County Lines drug smuggling, gang involvement, criminal exploitation and serious youth violence through previous perpetrators and runners/transporters perspectives. Take away ideas from a case study of collaboration between health services, local authorities and police to reduce the supply and demand of drugs to disrupt County Lines.
Key speakers:
- Chaired by: Tony Saggers, Delivery Partner, Tackling Child Exploitation Support Programme, Children’s Society and Former Head of Drugs Threat and Intelligence, National Crime Agency
- Detective Superintendent Syed Hussain, County Lines Operation Lead, West Midlands Police
- Stuart Liddell, Detective Chief Inspector Intelligence, Force Coordination and Operations, Northumbria Police
- Darren Wallace, County Lines Taskforce Lead, Merseyside Police
- John Pitts, University of Bedfordshire, and Adviser on violent youth gangs to Central Government, local authorities and police forces
- Andrew Poole, Head Teacher, Everton Free School
- Kendra Houseman, Service Manager- Exploitation Team, Safer London
- Nsang Cristia Esimi Cruz, Team Manager, REACH, London Borough of Barnet
- Confirmed Representative, CELLS Project
- Andrew Walker, Young Adder Partner Lead and Manager, Streetlives
- Emily Aklan, Founder and CEO, Serenity Welfare
Key Points:
- An update on current perpetrator models and the changing patterns of County Line activity
- Lessons learnt from nationwide crackdowns on County Lines
- Disrupting County Line networks through intelligence-led policing and inter-agency collaboration
- Understanding the engagement factors that attract children and young people into gang culture
- Exploring the methods used to groom, recruit and exploit young people
- Identifying children at risk of exploitation and training all staff to recognise the early warning signs
- Preventing and intervening with residents at risk of cuckooing
- Safeguarding looked after children from County Lines involvement
- Working in partnership with health services to reduce the demand for drugs to impact County Lines
View Agenda <https://www.westminsterinsight.com/events/county-lines-digital-conference/?booking_code=Email6T-3762834>
