Highland police ‘success’ tackling County Lines drug gangs from Liverpool behind 2023 violence after working with Merseyside cops to tackle the those dealing in the north

Highland: The police are feeling pretty good about their recent efforts against County Lines drug gangs coming from Liverpool. They’ve been working hard to tackle the violence that’s been affecting the area this year.

The Highlands and Islands division of Police Scotland has added more officers specifically to deal with these drug gangs. Chief Superintendent Robert Shepherd is set to update the Highland Council on their progress, highlighting the teamwork with Merseyside Police.

County Lines is a big deal in the UK, with drugs being trafficked from major cities like Liverpool into smaller, rural areas. It’s caused a lot of problems for communities.

Shepherd mentioned that they’re not just sitting back; they’re actively targeting these offenders and working with various partners to protect vulnerable people. Sadly, many of these vulnerable folks are addicts whose homes are taken over by dealers in a practice called “Cuckooing.”

Detective Chief Inspector Craig Still shared that their collaboration with officers in England is starting to pay off. They’ve built solid relationships and recently managed to imprison two men linked to a County Line responsible for serious violence in Inverness this year.

They’re also focusing on those supplying drugs from outside the area and taking action against local facilitators. The police are committed to raising awareness about County Lines and have plans for more sessions in early 2025. It’s a tough battle, but they’re making progress.