Current timestamp: 13/07/2025 05:34:23
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal Activity[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-location' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Leave this site

Cookies

We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.

You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.

Accept cookies Reject cookies Customise cookies

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.

Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

Go to Leicestershire Police homepage

  • Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Domestic abuse
    • Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences
    • Road traffic incident
    • Report antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud, bribery or corruption
    • Spiking
    • Stalking or harassment
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
    • Hate crime
  • Back to Tell us about

    • Tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • An existing case or report
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Filming
  • Back to Apply or register

    • Careers and volunteering
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Back to Request

    • A collision report
    • Intellectual property (IP) licence
    • Compensation for something the police have done
    • Your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
    • Request an update
  • Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Feedback about the website
    • Complaints
    • Say thanks
  • Your area
  1. ...
  2. News

Crimestoppers joins the police to tackle growing 'County Lines' drug networks for the first time

Main article content

News
Published: 17:24 05/09/2022

We are working with Crimestoppers and West Midlands Police to encourage anyone with information about organised drug gangs to contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling freephone 0800 555 111.

It's the first time the police service has united with the charity to launch an initiative aimed at disrupting and stopping drug gangs moving from larger cities to settle in rural areas and county towns across the East and West Midlands.

Criminals often recruit children, young people and vulnerable adults through the promise of friendship, money, drugs and more, in return for couriering illegal drugs and money across cities, towns and villages, known as ‘County Lines’. Sadly, these relationships soon turn violent with victims being robbed, threatened, and abused.

The charity is encouraging anyone with information or suspicions about organised drug gangs - and victims who need safeguarding - to contact Crimestoppers 100% anonymously by calling freephone 0800 555 111 at any time or by completing a secure online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org or Fearless.org for young people, where more can also be learnt about the warning signs of county lines activity.

Fearless.org also offers young people non-judgemental advice so they can make informed decisions about lifestyle choices and realise that they have an alternative option when reporting crime.

Anybody can get caught up in illegal, harmful drug activity. Signs to spot that something may not be right include:

-           Changes in the way young people you know might dress and unexplained sometimes unaffordable, new clothes, jewellery, phones, cars etc
-           Access to multiple phones/receiving excess phone calls or texts
-           You witness them dealing drugs.

Criminals can take over a home or short term let as a drugs base; this is known as ‘cuckooing’. Signs of this can include:
-           Regular short stay visitors
-           Residents or young people going missing, maybe for long periods of time
-           Curtains often always closed during the day
-           A change of resident's mood/demeanour (e.g. secretive/withdrawn/   
             aggressive/ emotional)
-           Unusual frequency of take away food
-           Increase in rubbish/drug paraphernalia.

Alan Edwards, West Midlands Regional Manager at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “Crimestoppers is here to help by taking your information whilst never asking for or storing any of your personal details. We are proud to be a charity that works with communities and know that our independence from the police reassures those who might otherwise never come forward.

“If you recognise any of the signs mentioned, do contact Crimestoppers 100% anonymously. No detail is too small and you could make a big difference in keeping your community safe. Things to tell our charity include: names and/or nicknames; descriptions of those involved and any distinguishing features such as tattoos; addresses, transport used, i.e., a car - a car’s make, model and registration.

“We don’t want to know who you are, just what you know.”

Detective Inspector Hazel Sandall from Leicestershire Police said; “Talking about exploitation, violence and the impact of drugs on people’s lives can be difficult and it can be hard to know where and whom to turn to.  Crimestoppers helps Leicestershire Police understand what worries and concerns communities have, by helping the public pass information on anonymously. We would encourage anyone who believes they know something about crime in their area, no matter how small it seems, to help us join the dots together. Your information is vital in helping us to safeguard you, those you care about and the community.”

Share

Footer navigation

Leicestershire Police

  • Contact us
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Campaigns
  • News
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookies
  • Terms and conditions
  • Accessibility

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information (FOI)
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Feedback

Partners

  • Partner services
  • Police.uk
  • Ask the Police
  • Police and Crime Commissioner

Follow us on

© Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.