Arrests made in fight to protect children from criminal exploitation

We have arrested 10 people and seized more than £30,000-worth of drugs, cash and weapons in raids on properties linked to suspected drug supply and child exploitation in Stone.

Today (Thursday 3 October), officers searched nine separate addresses in co-ordinated warrants in the town.

The activity, led by our child exploitation team, is part of an investigation into adults we suspect of being involved in child criminal exploitation (CCE) linked to organised crime and county lines drug dealing.

After forcing entry to the addresses, officers seized suspected heroin, MDMA, cocaine and cannabis, more than £10,000 in cash and several weapons, including seven samurai swords, and other items linked to drug supply.

As a result, 10 people have been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A and class B drugs, human trafficking and forced servitude (both modern day slavery offences).

They are:

A 49-year-old man, a 36-year-old man, a 34-year-old man, a 24-year-old man, a 22-year-old man, two 20-year-old men and 56-year-old woman and two 17-year-old girls, all from the Stone area.

One of these was tracked down by officers from our new Road Crime Team (RCT).

All 10 are currently in police custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Amy Martin, force lead for child exploitation, said: “Today we have executed a number of simultaneous warrants targeting those who we suspect of preying on children for their own financial gain.

“We believe that some of the victims have been subject to horrific threats and violence. They are now, thankfully, being safeguarded by ourselves and partner agencies.

“The message we want to send out is clear – we are determined to make Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent a hostile environment for those who think it is acceptable to exploit children and young people in this way. The public can expect to see an increased police presence in Stone over the coming days.”

The activity follows our ongoing commitment to proactively target serious and organised crime across Staffordshire.

We launched Operation Target in May last year and have been working with local police forces to disrupt and pursue criminals who plan, organise and commit serious criminal offences, including county lines drug supply, illegal firearms, knife crime, human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

County lines is a form of criminal exploitation where gangs persuade, coerce or force vulnerable people, including children, to distribute drugs.

Read more here: https://www.staffordshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/cl/county-lines/