Gang crime and youth violence
Gang crime and youth violence
Criminal gangs target vulnerable children and young people and groom them into engaging in criminal activities. Some signs to look for include:
- truancy from school
- associating with older people or gang members
- a decline in school performance
- changes in emotional wellbeing
- evidence of drug or alcohol use
- unexplained increase in money or new clothes you did not buy
We encourage people to tell us if they have suspicions that their child or the child of a neighbour, family member or friend has been recruited by a gang.
Please report any concerns by calling us on 01923 776611. You can also contact Hertfordshire County Council children’s social care on 0300 123 4043. The information you provide is anonymous.
For further help and advice, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit Fearless.
County lines
County lines is the name given to drug dealing where organised criminal groups (OCGs) use phone lines to move and supply drugs, usually from cities into smaller towns and rural areas.
They exploit vulnerable people, including children and those with mental health or addiction issues, by recruiting them to distribute the drugs. This is often referred to as ‘drug running’. Criminals may also use a vulnerable person’s home as their base of operations. This is known as ‘cuckooing'.
For more information please visit: https://www.herts.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/cl/county-lines
Cuckooing
Cuckooing is a practice where people take over a person’s home and use the property to facilitate exploitation. It takes the name from cuckoos who take over the nests of other birds.
There are different types of cuckooing:
- Using the property to deal, store or take drugs
- Using the property to sex work
- Taking over the property as a place for them to live
- Taking over the property to financially abuse the tenant
- There are several signs to look out for that may indicate someone is a victim of cuckooing:
- frequent visitors at unsociable hours
- changes in your neighbour’s daily routine
- unusual smells coming from a property
- suspicious or unfamiliar vehicles outside an address
Report Cuckooing by emailing antisocialbehaviour@threerivers.gov.uk.
You can also report suspicions anonymously to Crimestoppers online or by calling 0800 555111.
Always call 999 if you believe that someone is at immediate risk.
A guide to working with adults at risk of exploitation - cuckooing. The guidance aims to provide front line professionals with a multi-agency framework to facilitate effective working with adults who are at risk of cuckooing.
