Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will impose restrictions on pay-as-you-go mobile phones to help tackle the activities of drug gangs; and if she will she make a statement.
The use of pay-as-you-go mobile phones to run drugs supply ‘deal lines’ is a key feature of the county lines business model. The Government is committed to tackling drugs supply and reducing the viability of the county lines business model.
The recent report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (Both Sides Of The Coin: The Police And National Crime Agency’s Response To Vulnerable People In ‘County Lines’ Drug Offending) recommended that the Home Office should commission a review of the criminal abuse of mobile telecommunications services. We welcome this report and are currently considering all of its recommendations and our response.