GWR grant will help to educate young people about the dangers of ‘County Lines’

Increasingly, young people travelling on trains may be being exploited by urban gangs to move drugs and money across the country using dedicated mobile phone ‘deal lines’.

‘Fearless’, the youth service of Crimestoppers, will educate young people about the dangers of County Lines and how criminal gangs can groom them into acting as couriers. It will teach them about the signs to spot, the risks of serious violence and sexual exploitation and the consequences of such behaviour.

As part of GWR’s franchise agreement with the Department for Transport, the train operator is committed to supporting schools, colleges, community and other not-for-profit organisations by aiding a number of initiatives.

A high proportion of children being exploited travel on trains between London and South Wales on the GWR network. Newport and Cardiff are key hubs of activity for organised crime gangs and Fearless will be delivered in those areas.

Crimestoppers’ Director of Operations Mick Duthie said:

“This project will benefit young people using the network system by educating them and making them aware of the risks posed to their safety by criminal gangs. It will also look at the consequences of anti-social and criminal behaviour.

“It will highlight to young people the risks they can face and support them to make positive decisions, including passing crime information to us 100% anonymously via the website Fearless.org for young people; by calling Crimestoppers freephone number 0800 555 111, or completing a simple and secure form at Crimestoppers-uk.org or contacting British Transport Police.”

GWR Community Manager Emma Morris said:

“We have a specific pot of money designed to help support schools, colleges and community or other not-for-profit organisations.

“We know all about the dangers of County Lines and The Home Office has recently launched a campaign for rail staff to spot the signs of exploitation and report them to British Transport Police or Crimestoppers. We were only too pleased to support this project.”

To find out more about Fearless please visit Fearless.org

Notes to editors

First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR was recently awarded an extension to its direct award franchise (called DA3), which shall run up to 31 March 2023 with an option to extend for a further year. 
Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us