NG8 July/August 2021

YOUR LOCAL
BEAT TEAMS
WOLLATON WEST
Neighbourhood Policing Insp.
Inspector Gordon Fenwick
Neighbourhood Policing Sgt:
Sgt 3344 Tracey Perkins
Phone: 101 ext: 310 3344
PC 3529 Sophie Dickenson
07717 157925
PCSO 7818 Louise Down
07525 226537
CPO 9760 William Davies
07702 141616
WOLLATON EAST &
LENTON ABBEY
Neighbourhood Policing Insp.
Inspector Amy English
Neighbourhood Policing Sgt:
PS 3043 Andrew Hallsworth
101 ext 310 3043
PCSO 8834 Helen Russell-
Tayor - 07595 074226
CPO 4635 Can Truong
07422 073209
CPO 4648 David Fowkes
07939 597317
CPO 2730 Pete Barnes
07525 226426
PC 2644 Reece Morris
101 ext: 3102644
PC 3273 Trevor Bailey
07595 074227
Officers seize drug dealers’ phones to reach out to
help addicts
A suspected county lines drug dealer’s
phone is being used to send out
hundreds of text messages to his
customers to help them break their
addiction.
Analysis of the Bestwood dealer’s hotline
revealed the mobile numbers of more
than 100 contacts were receiving SMS
marketing updates from the drugs line.
The phone
was recovered
after a raid of
a suspected
county lines
drug dealer
who was
arrested for
conspiracy
to supply
class A
drugs
following
a
warrant
executed in Bestwood.
The search was part of the relentless
pursuit of criminals in a drugs network
that is supplying heroin and crack
cocaine across Nottinghamshire.
County lines officers are now sending
their own text messages from the seized
phone to offer a way out to those trying
to overcome substance abuse, reduce
drug crime and give vulnerable people a
way to seek help from local partners and
support services.
The text lets the recipient know that their
phone number has been in contact with
a county lines phone and signposts drug
users to seek support through tailored
services in the hope that they will turn
their life around.
Detective Inspector Paul Lefford hopes
the force can reach hundreds of young
people and adults through the bulk
messaging tactic, with the aim to disrupt
drug dealing activity.
“Drugs gangs exploit drug users and
we know there are people who may feel
trapped by their lifestyle or frightened to
get help.
“Our message is clear, if you’re a drug
dealer in Nottinghamshire and you are
looking to recruit, exploit and profit
financially by exploiting the vulnerable
we will use every tactic available to us to
locate, enforce and prosecute you.”
The new tactic is a joint strategy between
the Nottinghamshire Violence Reduction
Unit, Cleanslate, Change Grow Live and
Nottinghamshire Police.
Violence Reduction Unit director Dave
Wakelin hopes more vulnerable people
contact them through the tactic. “If you
are being exploited, we know that talking
to someone can be a tough thing to do,
but there are ways you can stay safe
whilst accessing help and support.”
Six officers have been added to the
force’s county lines proactive team who
work tirelessly to crack down on serious
and organised crime networks who pull
young or vulnerable people into a criminal
underworld to peddle drugs or carry out
forced labour.
County lines is the term used to describe
criminal gangs who move illegal drugs
from big cities to rural areas and sell
them via a dedicated phone line. It
often involves the use of children and
vulnerable adults who are recruited and
exploited by these gangs.
To find out more about HashtagNG’s
county lines initiative please visit: https://
www.hashtagng.co.uk/understandingcounty-lines