A NEW Brighton man was arrested on suspicion of Class A drug supply as part of a national crackdown on County Lines organised crime.

The 32-year-old was among a number of people arrested in Merseyside and Cumbria for various offences during County Lines Intensification Week.

The crackdown included operations, warrants, safeguarding of and visits to vulnerable people and education of care home staff.

A total of 268 vulnerable young people were spoken to, with safeguarding checks, education and care home visits made.

Offences included drug supply and possession, and possession of weapons. During warrants and other activity, cocaine, heroin and crack cocaine with an estimated street value of more than £300,000 was seized.

Other notable items seized included more than £12,000 cash, £53,000 in clothes and jewellery, and weapons including swords, a firearm and bats.

During the week, police working alongside British Transport Police and Cumbria Constabulary carried out an operation at Liverpool Lime Street and Barrow-in-Furness station in Cumbria.

During this, a 25-year-old Merseyside was found in possession of a bladed article. Three other men were arrested on suspicion of separate drug supply offences and remain under investigation.

A 23-year-old man from Anfield was stopped in possession of cannabis and a phone by police at Lime Street station.

A subsequent search of his home address led to 500g of cannabis and other paraphenalia being seized. He remains under investigation.

County Lines crime 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.

Inspector Kate Wilkinson from the Merseyside Police County Lines Co-ordination Unit said: "As this activity shows, we're committed to working alongside other forces and agencies to have a real impact on the issue of County Lines.

"We have a dedicated team to carry out operations, education and safeguarding, and the joint working with forces such as Cumbria, Northumbria and Cheshire means that crossing borders doesn't make it harder to detect criminals on the move.

"Everything we do is about working together to recognise the signs, protect the vulnerable and remove those who exploit those people from the streets.

"Through Project Medusa, we work with other forces, BTP and local authorities and agencies to target offenders and protect victims.

"We've closed more than 60 county lines, made more than 300 arrests and safeguarded more than 100 people this year alone.

"It's vital that everyone who cares for or knows young and vulnerable people understands the issue and knows the warning signs."

You can also report any concerns to police on 999 if a crime is in progress, via 101, or our social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC with reference 20000573862.

You can also pass information via the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.

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