Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

County Lines Drug Trafficking

Monday 9 November 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • County lines trafficking is a priority, with 25 million allocated over two years to combat criminal gangs.
  • 260 new officers have been appointed in the local area as of 30 September.
  • Thames Valley is developing a multi-agency violence reduction unit for 2.32 million targeting county lines.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement Children & Families
Context

The MP addresses the pressing issue of county lines drug trafficking and its impact on vulnerable children, a concern for Slough constituents. He notes that previous government cuts to police forces have hindered efforts to combat this crime.

Question

What steps are being taken to tackle county lines drug trafficking and safeguard vulnerable children from exploitation? This involves significant challenges due to earlier reductions in the police force's capacity.

Answer from Victoria Atkins

County lines trafficking is a heinous crime, and tackling it is an absolute priority. This includes delivering £25 million over two years to surge activity against these criminal gangs, investing in national and local law enforcement, and funding dedicated support for victims.

Answered
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Q2 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP highlights the ongoing struggle with county lines drug trafficking and safeguarding vulnerable children, emphasizing that sufficient police resources are crucial. He points out previous cuts to 21,000 police officers and asks about repurposed recruitment funds.

Question

To effectively tackle county lines drug trafficking and safeguard vulnerable children from exploitation, our police force must receive the necessary resources. Having cut over 21,000 police officers before a U-turn on recruiting 20,000 more, can the Minister confirm that recruitment funds will be made available to the police?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

260 new officers have been appointed in the local area as of 30 September. The Government commits to recruiting an additional 20,000 officers as a manifesto pledge. Thames Valley is developing a multi-agency violence reduction unit for £2.32 million targeting county lines.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Confirmation of availability of recruitment funds specifically for county lines policing

How: Categorically Confirming The Availability Of Recruitment Funds

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