MORE than 10,000 people have engaged with a major campaign to tackle county line drug dealers and raise awareness of the signs of exploitation.

The joint campaign by Southend Council and Essex Police, supported by the Echo, was launched at the start of last week and has been praised by the council already.

The campaign is part of a response to county lines, a national issue where criminal gangs are targeting children to move drugs and money in and out of cities and large towns, including areas like Southend.

#SeeTheSigns is urging parents and carers to find out more about how these criminal groups operate, and be aware of any signs that your child may be involved in drug dealing and exploitation, and more than 10,000 residents have watched the council’s campaign video.

Mark Flewitt, councillor responsible for public protection, said: “Just one week into the campaign and we have seen some very positive responses so far, with more than 10,000 views of our #SeeTheSigns video, several shares, and 700 website page views.

“We have also had a number of useful emails into seethesigns@southend.gov.uk, including one that will enable us to get in direct contact with a concerned family, and some from schools asking for visits, which we were already planning.

“As the campaign continues, we really want to encourage anyone who is concerned that their child is being exploited or is at risk of being exploited to please get in touch via the email address.

“We can guarantee that you will not be wasting our time and we promise to respond to your email within 48 hours.

“The more that you know, the more that you see, so if you are concerned please speak to us – it will enable us to give your family the support you need at the right time and help us to work with police to disrupt and address criminal activity and safeguard our young people.”

In the last two weeks the Echo has highlighted ongoing fears that teenagers are being exploited and targeted by drug dealers.

A terrified grandfather expressed his concerns claiming that High Street dealers are targetting vulnerable children and “nothing is being done”. Another parent contacted the Echo to say their son was recruited by dealers at just 13 years old.

The grandfather also raised concerns that children were being used as “bait” by police to catch dealers - although Essex Police categorically denied this. County lines are drug dealers from urban areas, who run dealing networks into towns, coastal and rural areas of counties.

THE Operation Raptor south team are dedicated to removing drugs from the streets of South Essex, and targeting gang activity and county line drug dealers.

With huge questions being asked about the use and supply of drugs in Southend, the Op Raptor team launched Operation Southend.

Special teams of officers, from the operation support group and Op Raptor South, who target gangs and drug crime, were out in full force and have seized weapons, cash and drugs.

During the first week the specialist team stopped a suspicious vehicle and arrested two men after finding two knives, a large quantity of drugs and tools for committing theft.

The unit attended a disturbance where they recovered a bag of wraps which were suspected of containing class A drugs.They also recovered scales and a knife.

A man was arrested and found to be wanted for three other offences in Scotland.

The Op Raptor team also recovered drugs and arrested a man for drug driving and possession with intent to supply.

Chief Insp Fergus Caulfield said: “Although the rise in violent crime is a national issue and not specific to Southend, we appreciate the concerns being raised by people in our community.”

Following prolonged operations several drug dealers have been found and prosecuted however several remain out on the streets of Essex.

The drug dealing gangs, coming from the capital, are also recruiting children.

The operation #SeeTheSigns has been launched to raise awareness of the problems in Southend and the surrounding area.