Police and sniffer dogs may patrol Ashfield railway stations in bid to tackle drug dealing

Police with sniffer dogs might be a common sight at train stations to stop 'County Lines' drug dealing.

Nottinghamshire’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has confirmed that it is considering working with railway stations to try and stop ‘County Lines’ drugs entering the county.

‘County Lines’ is where illegal drugs are transported from one area to another, often across police and local authority boundaries, usually by children or vulnerable people who are coerced into it by gangs.

The ‘County Line’ is the mobile phone line used to take the orders of drugs.

Importing areas are reporting increased levels of violence and weapons-related crimes as a result of this trend.

Ashfield Independent councillor Rachel Madden suggested the crackdown and said drugs are often imported into the county via children through railway stations. She has also raised the issue of ‘cuckooing’, where a drug dealer takes over the home of a vulnerable addict and uses it as a base of operations to distribute and store drugs.

Councillor Madden said: “I am pleased that the Violence Reduction Unit are considering my suggestion.

"Police patrols at railway stations like Hucknall, Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Sutton Parkway may become the norm.

"The idea of sniffer dogs on our train platforms is not ideal – but if it means that we get control of the importation of drugs then it should happen.”

The Violence Reduction Unit has also taken on board councillor Madden’s suggestion that they work with housing providers including councils, housing associations and addiction services in the fight against ‘cuckooing’.

Councillor Madden added: “Drug dealers identify vulnerable drug users and take over their homes.

"These homes are more often than not council or housing association properties.

"It’s critical that the Violence Reduction Unit, Nottinghamshire Police and housing providers work together to identify residents vulnerable to cuckooing.

"I am surprised that this doesn’t happen already but welcome the fact that as a result of my suggestion this will now happen.”