PCC’s office funds county lines school talks
School pupils in Broxbourne are being educated and warned about the dangers of county lines criminal activity.
Funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has allowed sessions to be delivered to up to 2,000 children and young people around the borough.
Provided by specialist trainer Leo Powell, the sessions aim to reduce the number of youngsters getting involved in county lines through early intervention.
County lines is when urban gangs persuade, or force, others to store drugs and money and transport them to other areas. It leads to a rise in crime particularly around child sexual exploitation, drug dealing and knife crime.
These gangs are highly organised criminal networks which use sophisticated, frequently evolving techniques to groom young people and evade capture by the police.
The 20 assemblies at primary and secondary schools are taking place following funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Action Fund.
These assemblies are aimed at reducing the likelihood of attendees being involved in county lines and serious youth violence. They also let those who are being targeted know where they can turn for help and advice.
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Lewis Cocking, who attended an assembly at Goffs-Churchgate Academy, in Cheshunt, on Friday (July 1) said: “This is a worthwhile project which is working to reduce serious youth violence and drug offending in the county.
“I am here today to see it in action and witness the positive effects of meeting young people face-to-face to discuss the dangers they face.
“Criminality relating to county lines has a wide-spread impact on our communities, causing misery and raising the fear of serious violence. This programme meets our priorities in the new Community Safety and Criminal Justice Plan and the Prevention First approach to making people safer.”
Mr Powell added: “The threat of children and young people being groomed and exploited into the area of county lines is real. I am honoured that the Police and Crime Commissioner’s team have awarded me funding, as this will enable me to raise much needed awareness in primary and secondary schools across the Borough of Broxbourne.”
The scheme is being monitored to see if there is merit in rolling the assemblies out to more schools across Hertfordshire.
The Action Fund allows the Commissioner to engage with, and provide a presence to, the wider community. It ensures that non-statutory organisations can bid for funds to support crime prevention and reduction initiatives as well as encouraging them to work with Community Safety Partnerships when crossover work has been identified.