Annual Report 23/24 Accessible Version

Combat organised crime and county lines

Organised crime can seem like a distant threat, but sadly it presents considerable challenges and its effects can be seen in local communities. Kent Police must continue to develop and share intelligence to build a local picture of threats, risk, harm and vulnerabilities to safeguard victims and enable the deployment of the right resources to prevent, disrupt and investigate offending to keep Kent safe.

a) Kent has three divisional County Lines and Gangs Teams (CLGT) who provide a proactive and preventative capability to reduce the harm caused to Kent communities from county-line criminality and gang activity. They investigate the county line activity which carries the greatest threat risk and harm and target those who supply controlled drugs.

Delivering results: In October 2023, investigators learned Ricardo Cain was travelling from Penge to Swanley to supply class A drugs. Officers found the 24-year-old used a specific phone number to send texts offering the drugs to local users. When officers raided his home, he was found inside with £250 in cash; he also threw heroin and wraps of crack cocaine out of a window, which were recovered. Cain, who was already on licence for a drug-dealing offence, was arrested. The drugs were estimated to have a street value of between £500 and £1,120. Cain was charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court. He was sentenced to 4 years in prison.

b) The Serious Organised Crime Team has continued to pursue those offenders that cause the most threat, harm and risk, targeting OCGs that erode the economy and communities and are responsible for drug importation and supply, firearms offences, aggravated burglary, and theft of ATMs amongst other offences. Such crimes have a significant impact on the public; OCGs ruthlessly target the most vulnerable, ruining lives.

Delivering results: In July 2023, an operation was launched to target a drugs supply network in the east of the county. A range of tactics were deployed, leading to the identification and targeting of David Allen, a 54yr old man from Marden. The investigation identified a container near Allen’s home address which proved crucial in uncovering his criminality. On 27 July, officers arrested Allen before executing warrants which led to the recovery of 64kg of amphetamine, 1.2kg of cocaine, 33,000 diazepam tablets, £73,000 in cash, a large quantity of syringes, 2 firearms, various high-value watches, and other items. Allen was charged with a number of indictable offences and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity; he was sentenced to 6yrs imprisonment