POLICE are backing a new national campaign to shine a light on the hidden reality of county lines exploitation.

Devon & Cornwall Police is supporting Crimestoppers' campaign, ‘Missing, controlled and exploited: the hidden reality of county lines in the UK’, which launched on July 21.

The initiative aims to raise awareness that county lines is not solely about drug dealing but is a form of criminal exploitation in which organised crime groups groom, manipulate and control children and vulnerable adults for financial gain.

As part of the campaign, information will be shared across the force's social media channels to help communities recognise the warning signs of exploitation and reassure people that they can report concerns anonymously through Crimestoppers if they do not feel comfortable contacting police directly.

Detective Inspector Steve Moorcroft of Devon & Cornwall Police said information from the public remains one of the most important tools in tackling county lines crime.

‘County lines continues to affect communities across the UK, but much of the activity remains hidden’, he said.

‘The importance of reports from the public to help us see the extent of criminal activity, and where it's happening, cannot be overemphasised, but we understand why crime often goes unreported.

‘People are unsure what they have seen and they fear being wrong about it. They may also worry about getting involved. This is why people should be assured that if they would rather not speak to the police, they can make a report through Crimestoppers and remain 100 per cent anonymous’, he added.

County lines networks often exploit children by coercing them into transporting drugs, carrying weapons and travelling long distances through intimidation, threats or violence.

Young people involved in this activity should be seen as potential victims of exploitation rather than offenders, the campaign says.

Police are encouraging members of the public to be alert to warning signs that may indicate a child is being exploited.

Repeatedly going missing, sudden changes in behaviour, associating with unfamiliar adults or friendship groups, carrying multiple mobile phones or possessing expensive clothing or other items without explanation can all be indicators that a child is being groomed by criminals.

Police say intelligence provided by communities has already made a significant difference through Operation Scorpion, the regional initiative targeting organised crime groups operating across the South West.

DI Moorcroft said: ‘Information received from the public is vital to the police in understanding where the exploitation of children is taking place and who is involved.

‘As an example, during the four and a half years that Operation Scorpion has been running across the South West, 1,380 people, including children, have been identified and taken away from organised criminal exploitation to be safeguarded.

‘Intelligence received from the public plays a very big part in the success of this work’.

The force is urging anyone who suspects child criminal exploitation to report their concerns.

Those who do not wish to contact police directly can provide information anonymously to Crimestoppers by phone or online - crimestoppers-uk.org