Police crack down on Worthing and Brighton drug dealers in coordinated operation

During just one week from September 14 to 19, officers in Sussex made 29 arrests, and seized more than £15,000 worth of drugs, 47 mobile phones, and 13 weapons, mainly knives, as part of a coordinated operation across the UK.

In the same week, local officers visited 68 addresses where people were at risk of being 'cuckooed' to check on their safety. They also identified and took safeguarding action for five particularly vulnerable people who needed extra help and support from the police and local services.

Cuckooing is when drug gangs will take over a vulnerable person's home, using it as a base to deal drugs and commit criminal activity.

As part of the week of action, Sussex Police and British Transport Police stopped and spoke to a total of 56 people about county lines drug dealing at Worthing and Brighton railway stations on September 16 and 18.

Two arrests were made at Brighton for drugs supply offences and one for possessing a large hunting knife. Many other people at both stations were engaged in wider discussion about the issue and the steps they can take to help.

County lines drug dealing refers to drug networks set up by gangs and organised crime groups from large urban areas, such as London, who use young and vulnerable people to carry out illegal activity on their behalf, often in rural areas. Exploitation of children and vulnerable adults, as well as an increasing use of violence, have become hallmarks of the issue.

During the operation at Brighton railway station, officers saw a 16-year-old girl from Buckinghamshire, who was particularly vulnerable to exploitation and safeguarding action was taken to help protect her.

The West Sussex Community Investigations Team carried out a joint operation with the Metropolitan Police in South London on Wednesday, September 16, which resulted in the arrest and charge of a 20-year-old man for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs in West Sussex.

On Thursday, September 17, officers carried out a search warrant at an address in Church Road, Hove, where a man and a woman on suspicion of possession of cannabis and cocaine with intent to supply. Drugs with an estimated street value of £10,000 were seized.

DS Hale said: "Local crime is often a direct result of major drug distribution via county lines and by working together with partners to shed a light on this often hidden crime. We are sending a clear message to drug dealers that they cannot expect to go undetected in Sussex.

"The organised crime groups tend to use a local property, generally belonging to a vulnerable person, sometimes a drug user, as a base for their activities. This is known as 'cuckooing' and will often happen by force or coercion. In some instances victims have left their homes in fear of violence. Much police work involves identifying these victims and helping them.

"Police continue to see children being exploited by criminal gangs to supply drugs in Sussex. We have experienced children travelling from London to Sussex to deal drugs on behalf of county line gangs as well Sussex children being exploited and targeted by London gangs to deal drugs locally. Our priority is to identify those children at risk of criminal exploitation and once identified work with partner agencies to put the appropriate safeguarding measures in place."

Operations were also carried out in Crawley, Horsham, Eastbourne and Hastings during the crackdown, which has reported to have resulted in more than 1,000 arrests across the UK.