Drug dealers dress as joggers to earn cash for gangs during lockdown

Drug dealers are dressing up as runners to earn cash for gangs during lockdown, according to new research.
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The director of the UK’s only centre dedicated to researching street gangs suggested that drug gangs are finding new ways of doing business during lockdown, with some dealers even creating fake NHS ID badges to move around freely.

Professor Simon Harding, Director of the National Centre for Gang Research at the University of West London, has spoken about changes in drug dealing behaviour since much of the country shut down in efforts to tackle the spread of Covid-19.

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He said dealers now try to avoid selling drugs on the streets and are instead turning to social media, drive-by sales, or letterbox drops to prevent infection.

Drug dealers are still in action during lockdownDrug dealers are still in action during lockdown
Drug dealers are still in action during lockdown

But where street activity continues, some dealers have dressed as joggers to avoid police detection, whilst others have created fake NHS ID badges in order to move around freely.

New tactics and methods have also led to a reduction in ‘cuckooing’ activity - where gang members take over the home of a vulnerable person to carry out cutting, sorting and dealing drugs.

The comments come following a major new study by Professor Harding into gang evolution, violence, and the emergence of ‘county lines’ gangs in the UK.

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Drawing on decades of research with gang members and police, he said: “Covid-19 has brought swift changes in how drug gangs are doing business, with many dealers adhering to social distancing and safety measures.

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“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.

“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.

“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.”