Child Criminal Exploitation Team have impact on drugs network in Loughborough

It is sometimes difficult to explain how much police work goes into catching bad people but a team that really knows how much impact their work has is the Child Criminal Exploitation Team at Leicestershire Police.

The team, which is made up of an inspector, four sergeants, 20 detectives, police officers and police staff work tirelessly to tackle a crime that is hard to get through court. However, as Detective Inspector Gary Bee explains, it is often the work the team undertake that leads to other convictions

“Our work can be invisible to the wider public,” Gary says “We work at grass roots level, identifying vulnerable people or children that may being exploited by criminals who are working at a whole different level of criminality, such as county lines drug crime or violence. It is our job to safe guard those people who might find themselves caught up with violent offenders, who could be exploiting them and harming them for their own gain through other crimes such as drugs.”

A great example of this work is a recent case relating to Brandon Southall, 25, formerly of Slade Road, Stockland Green, Birmingham who appeared at Northampton Crown Court on Friday (14 April) and sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison.

Southall was subject to a police investigation after police were called to a flat in Peel Drive, Loughborough in November 2020 following concerns of drug use and children visiting the address.

On arrival, after a short delay, Brandon Southall answered the door but would not left the officers in.

The man who lived at the flat came to the door and claimed everything was fine but officers noticed he seemed uncomfortable. They therefore spoke to him alone and he alleged that he was in fear of Southall, who was a drug dealer, and claimed that Southall had taken over his flat and the people inside were involved in the drug dealing.  This is commonly known as ‘Cuckooing’ and it was clear this man needed urgent help.

Officers went inside the flat where they found three teenagers, one of which was currently missing from another force area, and another adult.

Following the man’s allegation, as well as an allegation from a teenager in the flat stating she was being exploited to transport drugs, an investigation began into the possibility of modern slavery and drugs offences being committed with the use of the flat and the people inside.

A number of enquiries were carried out, which established that Southall had been playing a significant part in a county line drugs conspiracy being run between his home town – Birmingham - and Loughborough.

Detective Sergeant Rob Buckley, who worked for two years on this case in the Child Criminal Exploitation Team said:

“As part of our investigations we were able to safeguard two adults and three children, all who were had been caught in the web of Southall and his criminal enterprise.

By working tirelessly on this investigation, working with the West Midlands and Northampton Police Southall’s crimes were revealed and we were able to return all of the people to safety. We also managed to protect them from the trauma of giving evidence at court which would have been very difficult for them.  The Judge in this case acknowledged that exploitation was an aggravating factor in this case.

There is no doubt that the actions of Leicestershire officers and investigations have led to a dangerous individual spending a long time in prison.”

Southall pleaded guilty in November last year to conspiring to supply a class A controlled drug – cocaine – between 1 July 2020 to 7 November 2020 and making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child between 1 January and 6 November 2020 and two counts of making indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child on 29 October 2020.

The indecent image charges relate to a teenage girl, who was in the flat, and Southall after he filmed sexual activity between the two without her consent.

Detective Sergeant Rob Buckley, from the force’s Child Criminal Exploitation Team, continued: “This case has involved a huge amount of work and dedication from the Child Criminal Exploitation Team and recognition must be paid to all those with have been involved – in particular the Officer in Charge DC Sam Crisp. Their commitment and perseverance has disrupted a significant drugs supply which was no doubt making its way onto the streets of Loughborough and the surrounding area.

“County Lines drug activity remain an ongoing issue not just in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland but across the country. It’s important the public remain vigilant and are aware of the signs of exploitation - which comes in a variety of ways – and report their concerns. All information we receive helps you build the bigger picture around these crimes and contributes to us investigating those who commit such offences and places those charged before the court.”

Further information, including how to spot the signs of forced labour and cuckooing – and how to report it – as well as County Lines can be found by visiting Modern slavery | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk) or County lines | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk)