Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy noticePolice have arrested more than 1,000 suspects and safeguarded 573 children as part of a national operation to smash county lines drug gangs. Officers seized 33 guns and 219 knives after 80 separate dealing phone lines were identified during the seven day crackdown. There are currently thought to be around 600 county lines gangs operating in the UK, down from around 2,000 two years ago. National Police Chiefs' Council lead for county lines Deputy Assistant Commissioner Graham McNulty said: "The police response to county lines has increased substantially over the past 18 months. "We will use all the powers available to us to tackle every element of the county line network because we know the effect violence and crimes associated with county lines can have in our communities.

Source: Daily Mirror May 27, 2021 12:13 UTC