'Any child can be exploited by county lines gangs'

Amanda Radley from British Transport Police said children were at risk of exploitation during the summer holidays

Police have seized drugs worth £90,000 at York Railway Station in two days of action tackling county lines gangs.

Two drugs lines were "taken down", according to British Transport Police (BTP), with 12 people arrested and four young people safeguarded.

The operation on Tuesday and Wednesday involved a drug-detection dog working alongside plain-clothes and uniformed police officers, with a knife detection arch installed.

Amanda Radley, safeguarding lead for BTP's county lines task force, said "anybody is at risk" of being exploited, especially children during the summer holidays.

"These organised crime groups are very good at manipulating people, grooming them, coercing them," she added.

She said young people were particularly vulnerable to gangs targeting them online.

"A lot of young people are very accessible, and gangs are very good at convincing them they should be doing what they ask."

Over the two days, 184 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin were recovered with a street value of £1,840, BTP said.

The force also seized 11kg of cannabis with a street value of £80,000 and more than £8,000 in cash.

According to BTP, seven people were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, with four others detained in connection with the supply of class B drugs

One person was arrested on suspicion of possessing a blade.

All have since been bailed.

Ms Radley said people often carried a knife "for their own protection" after encouragement from gangs.

"They're worried about getting attacked, particularly if they're carrying drugs and they're frightened, they might feel they need to carry it to stop their drugs and money being taken."

Passengers exiting York Railway Station were told to walk through a knife arch metal detector and past Police Dog Ash

The days of action were part of Operation Bloom, which involves the BTP task force targeting different stations on the railway network, based on intelligence.

"We look at the data from stations which link to other locations as well," said Det Supt David Udomhiaye.

"It might not necessarily be that York has the issue on the day but we might have intelligence to suggest money or drugs or certain individuals would be passing through the station."

He said the operation was "intensified" during the summer because of school holidays.

"If you're in school then obviously you're accounted for on the register," he said.

"In the summer holidays there tends to be that gap where people can disappear unless their parents are really watchful."

Det Supt David Udomhiaye said parents should know where their children are during the summer holidays

Det Supt Udomhiaye encouraged parents to look out for children making expensive purchases without obvious means of buying them, and said youngsters should be able to "account for" new friends.

Meanwhile, BTP said vulnerable people could seek support from charities, social services or police officers.

Ms Radley said: "We can get them into a safe place, we can work with them and their families.

"We would encourage those children or friends of those children to tell a trusted adult.

"They'll be told not to, but actually there are people out there who can help them and we have successfully got people out of these exploitative situations."

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