Essex Police: Fighting Drug Lines with CSAS

The situation

Essex Police, in collaboration with the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) and the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), launched an operation targeting drug lines. The operation employed a combination of covert tactics and investigative communications data analysis, utilising the CSAS solution provided by Forensic Analytics.

The process

The use of CSAS enabled real-time enforcement actions, including vehicle stops, stop and search operations, and premises searches. It also supported proactive safeguarding of vulnerable individuals, identified through analysis, such as those in cuckooed addresses, using our drug lines analysis algorithm. The insights provided by CSAS gave the police confidence to charge suspects even before enforcement actions were carried out.

Investigative communications data analysis using CSAS is recognised as one of the most effective methods for enforcing against county lines and gang related violence. It allows police to proactively identify those that are most vulnerable and at risk of exploitation, while effectively targeting those causing most harm to communities.

The analysis also supported successful applications for civil orders such as 20 Gang Injunctions, and 11 Drug Dealing Telephone Restriction Orders.

Scott Fitzmaurice, former Detective Inspector, Essex Police

The result

During the operation, Essex Police reported taking enforcement action against 105 drug lines. Of the 124 identified suspects, 123 pleaded guilty and the only suspect who plead not guilty was subsequently found guilty at trial. Additionally, 24 individuals were referred to the National Referral Mechanism as potential victims of modern-day slavery.

The use of CSAS significantly reduced investigation costs compared to traditional methods such as wet forensics, while increasing positive outcomes and guilty plea rates in court.