Tackling 'Cuckooing' and County Lines drug networks

Criminal gangs are inflicting pain and suffering on vulnerable people in Scotland’s rural and coastal towns. Our campaign aims to highlight this abuse and encourage anyone with information to contact us, 100% anonymously.

GIVE INFORMATION ANONYMOUSLY

What are County Lines?

County Lines is a term used for organised drug-dealing networks, usually controlled by a person using a single telephone number or ‘deal line’.

They operate in major cities such as Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham, and distribute drugs across counties via ‘runners’.

Vulnerable children and adults are recruited as runners to transport drugs and cash all over the country, so that the criminals behind it can remain detached and less likely to be detected.

What’s ‘cuckooing’?

Criminals running County Lines will set up a base in a rural area or small town for a short time, taking over the home of a vulnerable person, ‘cuckooing’ them (named after the cuckoo's practice of taking over other birds' nests for its young).

Victims of ‘cuckooing’ are often drug users but can include older people, those suffering from mental or physical health problems, female sex workers, single mums and those living in poverty. Victims may suffer from other forms of addiction, such as alcoholism.

Some people may be forced to leave their homes, making themselves homeless and leaving the gangs free to sell drugs in their absence.

What’s being done to help?

Law enforcement has made significant arrests of individuals from the North West of England, who are both orchestrating this activity and who have travelled to areas such as Aberdeen, as well as safeguarding many vulnerable adults and children who have been coerced into these activities.

For this campaign, we’re using a series of ‘spot the signs’ posters, postcards and social media to help raise awareness of the issue across Scotland.

Crimestoppers’ youth programme Fearless will visit secondary schools in the Aberdeen area to provide information on County Lines and other crime issues, empowering young people to report concerns 100% anonymously via the Fearless website.

What to do if you have information

If you have any information about somebody who has recently travelled or moved into Aberdeen to set up a drugs network and who may be using violence or abuse to carry out their activities, please let us know.

You can speak to our Contact Centre on 0800 555 111 or use our non-traceable online form. You will remain 100% anonymous. Always. We will never ask for your name, and your phone call or online report will never be traced.

"Gangs coming into our north-eastern communities here in Scotland are not welcome. We want to ensure that if they do decide to set up their operation here that, with your help and information, we can remove them from our communities.

"We won’t judge or ask any personal details if you contact us. All we want to know is what you know, and you’ll remain 100% anonymous. Always.” 

 
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