Prime Minister’s county lines comments: CCN response

CCN Latest News, CCN News 2020 | 14 January 2020

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Today the Prime Minister has given an interview on BBC Breakfast, where he said that he wanted county lines ‘totally wound up’.

Below, the County Councils Network responds his comments.

Cllr Sam Corcoran, environment and communities spokesperson for the County Councils Network, and leader of Cheshire East Council said:

“Today’s comments from the Prime Minister shows that tackling county lines is a real priority for this government.  Drug crime and serious youth violence are too often seen as ‘urban’ problems far removed from the rural shires.  However over recent years the largest proportional increases in knife crime have been in county areas, substantially so in some places, which our members attribute to the growing reach of county lines crime and exploitation into rural areas.

“This is a complex issue, and one that will need local organisations working together to eradicate county lines in their areas. County authorities must be part of any solution, and need adequate levels of funding to protect vulnerable young people who end up being exploited by drugs gangs. At the same time, our communities would benefit from an increased police presence – so it is imperative that a rise in police numbers is reflected across the country, not just urban areas.”