AFTER hearing first hand from police officers about the impact of cocaine and heroin from nearby cities coming into Redditch, MP Rachel Maclean has welcomed Government plans to crack down on the gangs responsible.

Last week the Government launched the £3.6million National County Lines Coordination Centre as UK law enforcement agencies significantly strengthen their response to county lines drug crime.

County lines relates to the supply of Class A drugs, primarily crack cocaine and heroin, from cities to market towns, coastal areas and rural locations by young people, using a branded mobile phone line.

Recently, the MP joined police on patrol in Redditch and heard first-hand about the ongoing issues with county lines in the town.

She said: “We need to end the scourge of county lines drug crime in our town and across the country. The Government is bolstering its response to county lines drug gangs by launching the National County Lines Coordination Centre – an announcement local police officers will I’m sure join me in welcoming.

“County Lines are having a significant impact on our community, something I saw first-hand when I joined PC Chris Burns out on patrol a few weeks ago.

“These gangs are using vulnerable young people in our town to sell drugs. This is an appalling crime and these gangs should know that the law will catch up with them as the Government cracks down on these deplorable crimes.”

The new multi-agency 38-strong team of experts from the National Crime Agency, police forces and regional organised crime units will work together to develop the national intelligence picture of the complexity and scale of the threat.

They will then prioritise action against the most serious offenders, and engage with partners to across Government, including health, welfare and education, to tackle the wider issues.

Gangs and criminal networks use extreme violence and intimidation to establish and maintain markets, with practices including forcing vulnerable people from their homes to establish a base to sell drugs.

There are already 200 active county lines investigations underway, but the introduction of the centre will allow police forces, including West Mercia, to intensify their operations.