THE grim reality of how drug dealers are grooming children as young as 14 to traffic substances on behalf of inner city gangs has been revealed. 

Children and other vulnerable people in Darlington and County Durham are being targeted by gangs to help them distribute drugs. 

It is a world where extreme violence and weapons are rife, and vulnerable people are being coerced into dangerous situations.

In one situation, a 15-year-old girl was found to be pregnant.

And among the young people taken into police protection as a result of a recent police operation were children as young as 14.

Read more: County Lines: 20 people arrested in Darlington and County Durham

In another house, officers discovered a a 19-month-old baby, who had to be taken into protection due to evidence of frequent drug use and weapons around the address.

Temporary Detective Superintendent Stephen Thubron, of Durham Constabulary said: “Children and vulnerable adults are often manipulated to act on behalf of County Lines drug dealers and can suffer extreme violence and coercive behaviour if they refuse.

“People sometimes think that children coerced by drug dealers are in care or vulnerable but this is often not the case – these are ‘ordinary’ children who are lured in by drug dealers and then find themselves trapped in dangerous situations.

“Being able to uncover these children and protect them is one of the most satisfying parts of our work and something we will never stop.”

“County Lines” drug dealing has been a rising problem around Darlington and other parts of County Durham – leading to Durham Police’s biggest ever operation in recent weeks, which saw 20 people arrested, including for drug and rape offences, and about £700,000 worth of drugs seized.

Police say children are being manipulated to become involved in the situations which then become dangerous. 

The force has taken 11 children into police protection, including nine in Darlington.

Read more: County Lines: How to spot children being exploited by drug gangs

County Lines drug dealing refers to a form of criminal exploitation in which criminals groom and manipulate children into drug dealing.

The 'lines' refer to mobile phones that are used to control a young person who is delivering drugs, often to urban and rural locations.

As a result of recent operation, eleven children being groomed to traffic drugs in County Durham and Darlington are now safe.

Among those now safe is a 15-year-old pregnant girl whose own mother was drug dealing and controlling a line to Manchester.

The girl was taken into police protection when officers raided the family home and discovered crack cocaine, burner phones and other paraphernalia.

Officers also acted to protect a 19-month-old baby who was present at an address where there was evidence of frequent drug use and weapons around the house.

And in another instance, a suspected drug dealer was arrested on suspicion of raping a child under 16.

Enquiries are ongoing to prosecute those believed to be responsible and all children who were in danger are now receiving support.

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