New Service to Tackle County Lines Launched in Kent
25th May 2022
New Service to Tackle County Lines Launched in Kent
Police and Crime Commissioner announces new Catch22 service for local young people
Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, has launched a new service in Kent, designed to prevent vulnerable young people falling victim to things like exploitation and county line drug gangs.
Kent has seen a decline in the number of County Lines gangs operating over the last six years from a one-time high of 80 to 37 in spring 2022. However, Kent’s proximity to both London and the coast means it will always be targeted by those seeking to exploite and abuse.
Because of that, Catch22 has been employed to provide one-to-one specialist support for youngsters who’ve been victims of this sort of abuse and exploitation across Kent and Medway. With an equal focus on prevention and protection, the service will provide confidential and independent mentoring to prevent repeat incidences of serious violence, criminal exploitation, or gang association.
The PCC Matthew Scott says:
“I’m delighted to welcome Catch22 to Kent and Medway. Protecting people from exploitation and harm is a priority in my new Police and Crime Plan. If we fail young people, we not only create problems for the future, but we waste potential talent. I’m hoping that with the intervention services Catch22 provide, we will help support and provide opportunities for vulnerable young people across the county.”
The service will work alongside Kent's Violence Reduction Unit and some support will also be provided for victims' families.
Catch22 Senior Services Manager Marc Stevens says:
“County lines, child exploitation, and children missing from home are inextricably linked. It is so important that local communities are supported to understand how missing incidences, serious online harms, or carrying weapons affect young peoples’ susceptibility to exploitation.
“The last couple of years have been particularly tough on children and young people so we are really looking forward to building on the success of our nationally recognised youth violence prevention work and bringing our support to the Kent region.”
Catch22 delivers services aiming to prevent young people from being further victimised by County Lines or criminal exploitation across Merseyside, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and West Midlands.
The new service will launch on July 1st, 2022 and will support children and young people up to the age of 25.
ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS:
About Catch22
Catch22 exists to help build a society where everyone has a good place to live, good people around them, and a fulfilling purpose. By delivering frontline public services, Catch22 improves the lives of thousands of families every day on the frontline, and then uses the knowledge to change 'the system', to fix the complex web that can trap and disempower those it was set up to help.
Catch22’s Young People & Families Hub delivers a wide range of integrated support services designed to help resolve complex difficulties experienced by young people and their families/carers. Catch22 delivers child exploitation and missing intervention services across Merseyside, Derbyshire, and Stoke and Staffordshire.
About ‘County Lines’:
A “County Line” is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas [within the UK]. They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move [and store] the drugs and money and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons.
County Lines drug supply is linked with violence committed by, and against CYP who are involved in County Lines and it puts other CYP at risk of violence and exploitation. CYP may be inclined to carry knives, or other weapons, because of their perceptions of being at risk of violence in their schools or communities.