Devon & Cornwall Police News site

Devon & Cornwall Police in Plymouth have used profits seized from criminals to fund educational performances at a local school about child criminal exploitation and drug trafficking.

The neighbourhood police team in Plymouth North Sector have secured £1,200 from the Proceeds of Crime Fund (POCA) to help fund three performances hosted by school theatre group, Narrative Alchemy. The 40-minute performances aim to educate students about county lines, raising awareness of the signs of exploitation, how it impacts young people and what to do if students find themselves in that situation. Each performance is followed by 15-minute question and answer session.

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. 

Inspector Jon Manning, who heads up neighbourhood police officers in the North of Plymouth, said: “This is such an important message to share far and wide. We know young people, who are of secondary school age, can be targeted by criminals appearing to be a ‘friend’, asking them to sell drugs or commit crime in return for money or gifts. This is exploitation. By raising awareness of county lines we can continue to educate young people about how to spot the signs and not become a victim of these crimes.

“Following these assemblies, nearly 800 students aged 11 to 18 have seen the performance and will know more about county lines and what support is available if they need it.”

“We are delighted that neighbourhood police team have been able to use POCA funds to support us to bring Narrative Alchemy into Sir John Hunt,” said Mr Marner, Assistant Principal. “We are proud of the support that we provide to our students, and are grateful for this opportunity to enable them all to learn about what criminal exploitation is through this fantastic performance. It is all too easy for a young person to be unwittingly drawn into criminal activity and this theatre production has certainly alerted our students to some of the dangers they may face from organised crime groups.

“Since the production, many of our staff have confirmed how well presented the play was and how the students have reported back to them that they thought it was a really important message and very easy to understand.” 

Mr Marner also shared a quote from the parent of a year 7 student: “My son told me all about it when I got home and said how good it was! It then led to conversations about how this does happen in real life. I was super impressed how impactful it must have been and how it opened the avenue to have this conversation at home.”

Insp Manning added: “Education is just one part of our approach to tackle drugs and exploitation. We continue to carry out regular patrols, both high-visibility and in plain clothes, to target individuals who look to commit crime in our city.”

“However, we can’t do it alone – we need the support of our communities. Please, if you see something that doesn’t look right or if you have any information that could support our investigations, come forward. You are our eyes and ears on the street and your information might just be the missing piece that we need to take action.”

If you would like to raise a concern with the police, please report on our website or call 101. If a crime is taking place, call 999. Information can also be passed 100% anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111, or via their website.

Narrative Alchemy perform to schools across the UK. They raise awareness of important topics, like crime, in a unique and captivating style, pitched for young people. The performances have an emotional storyline, which the group hope will stay with young people for much longer than delivering the message using alternative methods.

Police in Plymouth continue to support groups, projects and charities in the local area with money from the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) fund, which contains funds seized from criminality. For more information about POCA funding, get in touch with your local neighbourhood police team: Your area | Devon & Cornwall Police (devon-cornwall.police.uk).