"The exploitation of children and vulnerable people in this way is disgusting and cowardly, Ms Jones said. County lines gangs are also driving knife crime in our communities, and I want criminals to know that we will not let them get away with it. We will be relentless in going after these gangs. Today's results speak for themselves but we are going further than ever to stop this evil trade."
"Ms Jones said three new criminal offences brought in through the Crime and Policing Bill, which faces scrutiny in the Lords before it becomes law, would help ensure the punishment matches the severity of the crime. These include the proposed new offences of coerced internal concealment where children and vulnerable people are made to hide objects inside their bodies and criminal exploitation of children, which would each carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison."
More than 2,300 drug smuggling deal lines have been shut off in the past year. Targeted work on key transport networks and investment in automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology contributed to charges against more than 1,120 senior gang members in the 12 months to July. These are the highest annual figures since the county lines programme began in 2019. Proposed offences in the Crime and Policing Bill include coerced internal concealment and criminal exploitation of children, each carrying up to 10 years' imprisonment, and cuckooing with a maximum of five years. Campaigners call for exploited children to be treated as victims rather than criminals.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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