Coronavirus lockdown drug dealers 'dressing as joggers and NHS to move around freely'

Drug dealers are exploiting the coronavirus lockdown by dressing as joggers or using fake NHS ID badges to move around freely, according to an expert on gangs.

Professor Simon Harding, director of the National Centre for Gang Research at the University of West London, said "county lines" gangs are finding new ways of doing business during the pandemic.

The academic said many dealers are "heeding government advice on social distancing", turning to social media, "drive-by sales" or letterbox drops to avoid infection.

But some have dressed as joggers to avoid police detection, while others have made fake NHS ID badges to continue street dealing, according to Prof Harding.

"On one hand they really are heeding government advice on social distancing, but at the same time it is business as usual and as people were panic-buying food, dealers were running bulk deals and selling lockdown party packs," he said.

"Vehicles are being used more often to carry out deals arranged by phone, with products thrown from windows and money chucked on the back seat to keep items clean.”

Prof Harding said the lockdown and travel restrictions are affecting the "county lines" gang model – which sees young and vulnerable people used as couriers to move drugs and cash between cities and smaller towns.

Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice

Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world

Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area

6 charts and maps that explain how COVID-19 is spreading

The new tactics have also led to a reduction in so-called "cuckooing" – where gang members take over the home of a vulnerable person to cut, sort and deal drugs – because it is seen as too risky for health, he explained.

"Sending groups of young lads out to Southend-on-Sea by train to carry drugs is too risky now, so increasingly dealers are driving runners around, or hiring local people to do the job," said Harding.

"Street gangs are being forced to find new tactics, such as shifting grooming and recruitment online to social media.

"This means young people can become ensnared in dangerous gang activity from their phones while their families have no idea and that is a worry.”

Last month, National Crime Agency director general Lynn Owens said prices are rising with fewer drugs entering into the UK.

She said some drug dealers are trying to disguise themselves as key workers by wearing high visibility clothing or operating from supermarket car parks as they adapt to the coronavirus lockdown.

"They are having to find new ways of working and new networks," Owens said.

"Drug dealers moving illicit drugs are concerned about greater scrutiny as they recognise that with less people on the streets, they are more visible."

On 14 April, UK Border Force officials found 14 kg of cocaine stashed among two consignments of facemasks after stopping a Polish van driver near Calais.

Coronavirus: what happened today

Click here to sign up to the latest news, advice and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter