GMP to get extra cash to take out ruthless county lines drugs gangs "driven by greed"

GMP is to get extra government cash for three years to create a squad to take down county lines drugs gangs. Last year it was estimated 200 such networks were operating from the region, but that is now believed to have increased. In many children are groomed and exploited, being used as couriers.

The force has been robust in attempting to smash the lines which have been run to Cheshire, Cumbria, and even Scotland. A drugs line based in Salford, supplying crack cocaine to Warrington was taken out and members jailed recently, in a Cheshire Constabulary operation.

GMP is the fourth force get Home Office funding specifically to tackle county lines. The decision follows data analysis, The government says: "Manchester is consistently one of the top five areas in England and Wales for county lines drug activity, which is in turn linked to the flow of guns and knives into the area often used to commit violent crime."

Funding will create a dedicated team "to disrupt the highest harm and most profitable county lines." They will conduct investigations to identify the controllers of the phone lines used to push drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine to vulnerable people. The new team will work alongside GMP’s existing Challenger programme to prevent the exploitation and serious violence committed by county lines gangs and safeguard vulnerable children and adults.

The government has pledged to nationally eliminate more than 2,000 county lines over the next three years, backed by up to £145 million of investment. Police and Crime Minister, Kit Malthouse, who visited GMP this week said:" The controllers of drug networks around Manchester are ruthless criminals motivated by nothing but greed."

He added: "They fuel violence and exploit