North Yorkshire Police has arrested 27 people during a national week of action to tackle county lines drug dealing.

County lines involves drug dealers from larger cities dealing drugs in smaller towns, often exploiting vulnerable people in the process.

It's been a constant problem in Harrogate and Ripon with gangs from West Yorkshire targeting the towns.

The national week of action, between October 3 and 9, was coordinated by the National County Lines Coordination Centre.

Harrogate Arrests 

On Monday, officers arrested a 33-year man in Harrogate who was suspected to be delivering drugs from his vehicle. He was found to be in possession of approximately £1,500 worth of cannabis and approximately £500 of cash.

On Friday, officers suspected that a drug deal had just been conducted in a vehicle in the Jennyfields area of Harrogate. One man was arrested, but the passenger managed to flee from the police. After a chase and extensive area search, officers successfully detained and arrested a 48-year-old man on suspicion of supplying a class-A drug - suspected to be heroin.

Later that night officers arrested a 31-year -old man from Manchester on Wetherby Road in Harrogate. He was suspected to be in the area dealing drugs. Officers conducted a search of the man and his vehicle and located approximately 30 individual packets of suspected cocaine.

Officers said across North Yorkshire it had arrested 27 people on suspicion of drugs offences. Two bladed weapons were recovered as well as over £5,000 in cash and £10,000 in what is suspected drugs. It also made 60 welfare visits to vulnerable people

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The force's operation expedite team, which is responsible for tackling county lines, was on the streets stopping people and vehicles that are linked to the supply of drugs. The force said Harrogate's Neighbourhood Policing Team as well as licensing officers from North Yorkshire County Council were also involved.

Specialist dogs were used to disrupt the supply of drugs linked to the night time economy in Harrogate and Ripon.

Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Simpson who supported the coordinated the week said:

Look out for the signs: 

Cuckooing is the term given when drug dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person and use it at a base to sell and store drugs, often using violence and intimidation to achieve this.

Cuckooing victims are often drug users themselves, or people who are vulnerable due to a mental or physical disability, their age or lifestyle, such as sex workers and single mothers.

Signs of cuckooing to look out for include

• Increased callers at a property at all times of the day or night


• Increase in cars pulling up for short periods of time


• Different accents at a property


• Antisocial behaviour at a property


• Not seeing the resident for long periods of time


• Drug-related rubbish – small plastic bags, syringes


• Windows covered or curtains closed for long periods


• Unexplained or untreated injuries

Children are groomed and exploited to deal drugs on behalf of organised criminals. These are the signs to look out for:

• Persistently going missing from school or home and / or being found out-of-area


• Unexplained money, clothes, or mobile phones


• Excessive receipt of texts / phone calls


• Relationships with controlling / older individuals or groups


• Leaving home / care without explanation


• Suspicion of physical assault / unexplained injuries


• Carrying weapons


• Significant decline in school results / performance


• Gang association or isolation from peers or social networks


• Self-harm or significant changes in emotional well-being


• Travelling long distances on public transport - is it term time? Should they be in school? Are they paying high cost fares with cash?

Police Advice:

Anyone with concerns about county lines is asked to speak to their local police on 101 or call 999 in an emergency.

If you’d rather stay anonymous you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

If you are a young person who is worried about being involved in county lines, or knows someone who is, you can speak to an adult and let them know how you feel.

You can also contact www.fearless.org who allow you to pass on information about crime anonymously.

You can also contact Childline on 0800 1111 – they are a private and confidential service where you can talk to counsellors about anything that is worrying you.