In a week-long crackdown on county lines activity, Staffordshire Police arrested 35 people, and seized a handgun and more than £50,000-worth of drugs.

From Monday 2 March to Sunday 8 March, Staffordshire Police joined police forces across the UK to carry out enforcement and engagement activity as part of county lines intensification week.

In Staffordshire, this led to the recovery of 540 deals of crack, 364 deals of heroin, one kilogramme of ketamine, 28-grammes of monkey dust, and £31,461 in cash.

Additionally, five drug line phones were seized and six weapons, including a handgun, two machetes and a lock-knife, were recovered.

Superintendent Victoria Downing, head of major and organised crime at Staffordshire Police, said: "Our dedicated proactive teams across the north and south of the county continue to relentlessly pursue and disrupt the organised crime groups behind county lines activity, while safeguarding those at risk of exploitation, including children. 

"We work closely with local policing teams to take decisive action against offenders and to highlight the significant risks associated with carrying weapons.

"Our continued focus on dismantling county lines networks has been shown to reduce knife‑related violence and improve safety for vulnerable individuals."

During the week, officers also delivered educational sessions to children and adults across the county, including leaflet drops to help people spot the signs of exploitation and signpost those at-risk to the relevant support groups.

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Sixteen addresses were also visited that were marked as being potential 'cuckooing' locations – a term used to describe when gangs take over the home of a vulnerable person and use it as a base of their operations.

Staffordshire Police explained that this normally involves the victim being manipulated, coerced and threatened into not telling anyone that it is happening.

The police force added that a county line, where a dedicated phone number is used to advertise and supply drugs in a community, "typically exploits vulnerable people (including children) to transport, store, or sell drugs. The controllers of the line often reside in other larger cities".

County lines are run by 'line holders' who are often linked to organised crime gangs (OCGs) and runners, usually children and young people who deliver the drugs.

Superintendent Victoria Downing added: "During our week of action, we removed a significant amount of illegal drugs and several weapons from the streets of Staffordshire, including machetes. The impact our activity is having on county lines is proven to reduce knife related violence.

"Recent government statics will suggest there has been a 25 per cent drop in hospital admissions for knife stabbings in the areas where large quantities of class A drugs originate.

"Our proactive policing directly enhances the safety of our communities and protects young people from harm.

"We will continue to be relentless and unapologetic in targeting criminals who seek to exploit our vulnerable and our children."

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Staffordshire Police has urged anyone concerned about drug-related crime in their area or anyone who thinks someone may be a victim of drug exploitation, to call them on 101 or make an anonymous report by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Always call 999 in an emergency.