🚔 Falmouth & Helston Neighbourhood Team: A Busy Week Tackling Drug Crime 🚔

🚔 Falmouth & Helston Neighbourhood Team: A Busy Week Tackling Drug Crime 🚔

It has been an extremely busy week for officers across the Falmouth & Helston Neighbourhood Team, resulting in eight arrests linked to criminality in our communities.

Of those arrested, five individuals were arrested for Possession with Intent to Supply controlled drugs or being concerned in the supply of controlled substances. These arrests form part of our ongoing work to disrupt those involved in drug dealing and protect vulnerable people from harm.

Drug dealing is not a victimless crime. Whilst many people think only of the drugs themselves, the reality is that organised criminal groups often rely on the exploitation of vulnerable people to operate their networks.

This can develop into what is commonly known as County Lines, where criminal gangs expand their drug dealing operations into towns and rural communities. To maximise profits and reduce their own risk, these groups frequently target and exploit vulnerable adults and children, coercing them into transporting, storing or supplying drugs.

Those targeted may include:

Criminals often use threats, violence, intimidation, debt, gifts or the promise of friendship and belonging to control vulnerable people. In some cases, offenders take over a vulnerable person's home to deal or store drugs, a practice known as "cuckooing".

What are the signs to look out for?

🔹 Unexplained increases in visitors to an address.
🔹 Frequent short-stay visitors at all hours of the day or night.
🔹 Young people travelling unexpectedly or going missing.
🔹 Individuals appearing fearful, controlled or under pressure from others.
🔹 Drug-related activity, anti-social behaviour or suspicious vehicles.
🔹 Vulnerable people suddenly associating with new groups or receiving unexplained gifts, money or mobile phones.

The information provided by our communities is vital. Reports from residents, businesses and partner agencies help us identify offenders, safeguard vulnerable people and build the intelligence needed to take positive action against those causing harm.

If you have information about drug dealing, the exploitation of vulnerable people, or other criminality affecting your community, please report it to Devon & Cornwall Police via:

👉 Report antisocial behaviour | Devon & Cornwall Police

Always call 999 if a crime is in progress or there is an immediate risk to life.

We would like to thank everyone who continues to report concerns and share information with us. The arrests this week demonstrate the value of information provided by the public. Every piece of intelligence helps us identify suspects, protect vulnerable members of our communities and take appropriate action against those involved in criminality.

Your information makes a real difference, and together we can continue to make Falmouth and Helston safer places to live, work and visit.

#Falmouth #Helston #NeighbourhoodPolicing #CountyLines #DrugCrime #KeepingCommunitiesSafe #WorkingTogether