Drug dealer given county's first anti-slavery order

Convicted drug dealer Jack Dempsey has been handed Hertfordshire's first anti-slavery order

A drug dealer who was jailed for six years has now been handed Hertfordshire's first slavery and trafficking prevention order (STPO).

Jack Dempsey, 25, from Torridge Walk, Hemel Hempstead, was arrested in November during an operation led by Hertfordshire's Police's county lines team.

During searches of addresses in Stevenage and Knebworth, a significant amount of crack cocaine and heroin were recovered, which linked Dempsey to a county line which exploited children to distribute drugs as "runners", police said.

Dempsey pleaded guilty and was jailed at St Albans Crown Court earlier this month for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and modern slavery offences, and this week he was handed the STPO.

'Vulnerable people'

One child was identified and safeguarded during the police investigation after being suspected of being criminally exploited by those running the line.

An STPO can prohibit foreign travel, or impose restrictions on working with children and young or vulnerable people, restrictions on organising transport or accommodation for others and restrictions on contacting specific individuals.

The order means that restrictions will remain in place for five years and ensure Dempsey does not exploit any further victims, police said.

Hertfordshire Police spokesperson continued: "Dempsey ran the Tony drug line, which was operating in the Stevenage area dealing crack cocaine and heroin.

"He was also using children as 'runners'... and [the STPO] puts measures in place to ensure he will not be able to exploit vulnerable people after his release from prison."