In what authorities have labeled a “record year” for gang crackdowns, over 2,700 drug operations were dismantled, and close to 1,000 knives were confiscated in 2025.
The Home Office disclosed that in the period between January and December last year, 2,740 county lines were disrupted, resulting in 1,657 gang ringleaders facing charges and the seizure of 961 blades.
County lines networks, typically urban-based gangs, utilize dedicated phone lines to distribute substances like cocaine and heroin to customers in smaller towns and different counties.
These criminal organizations employ violent tactics, often exploiting minors. The statistics for 2025 mark the highest numbers since records started in 2019. The crackdown on county lines has contributed to a 25% drop in hospital admissions related to stabbings in crucial areas, averting over 800 stabbing incidents annually.
Sarah Jones, the policing minister, declared, “We are shutting down more criminal networks, apprehending more gang leaders, and removing more dangerous weapons from our streets than ever before. Our commitment to pursuing these dreadful criminals, who leave behind a trail of violence and exploitation, is unwavering. The government aims to halve knife crime within ten years, ultimately saving lives and safeguarding communities.”
As the government readies to unveil its strategy to halve knife crime by 2035, a £34 million investment has been confirmed for the county lines initiative this year, earmarked for police operations such as house raids and drug seizures. This funding includes over £28 million for law enforcement efforts to dismantle the gangs that exploit children and engage in violent activities.
Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell, Head of the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), emphasized the ongoing commitment to combatting county lines, noting that more efforts are being made to close operations, prosecute violent offenders, and shield vulnerable individuals from exploitation and harm.
Kathy Betteridge, Director of Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery for The Salvation Army, commended the government’s actions against county lines and the associated violence and devastation. She highlighted the importance of prevention, sustained investment, and the tangible outcomes being achieved.
Through their work with survivors and communities nationwide, The Salvation Army witnesses firsthand the destructive effects of county lines exploitation, where young and vulnerable individuals are lured into violence and criminal activities by gangs.
