More than 2,700 drug lines closed and nearly 1,000 knives seized in 2025

The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that more than 2,700 drug lines were closed and approximately 1,000 knives were seized during 2025, which was a “record year” for gang raids.

Nearly 2,740 county lines were closed, 1,657 gang leaders charged and 961 knives seized between January and December last year, according to newly released Government data.

County lines networks are urban-based gangs that often use phone numbers to sell drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin to customers in other counties and small towns, often involving the exploitation of children.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the 2025 figure is the highest since registration began under the Government’s district boundaries program launched in 2019.

According to National Archive data, 1,150 lines were closed between April 2022 and January 2023, 1,656 lines were closed between April 2021 and March 2022, 643 lines were closed between April 2020 and March 2021, and 139 lines were closed between November 2019 and March 2020.

It comes as the Government prepares to introduce a plan to halve knife crime next Tuesday; A £34 million investment in the county lines program has been approved this year to fund police actions such as house raids and drug seizures on transport networks.

Police minister Sarah Jones said: “I will not settle for the relentless pursuit of these horrific criminals who leave a trail of violence and exploitation in their wake.

“The government will save lives and protect communities by halving knife crime within ten years.”