Police in Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge tackling child exploitation

Tackling child sexual exploitation, sexting, street safety, County Lines and cuckooing are the new priorities of the Suttons Neighbourhood Policing Team for the next three months.

The team, which covers Long Sutton, Sutton Bridge and the surrounding villages sets a new target four times a year, and from now until the end of March it is committed to safeguarding youngsters against adverse influences.

A spokesman said: "We will be working with young persons within the community. We aim to educate how we can improve their safety when out and about as well as online/mobile phone usage and bring on board our partner agencies where applicable.

"We will be liaising with all the schools in our beat area and finding out what concerns they have. Areas where we would be looking at are the risks for child sexual exploitation, sexting, street safe, County Lines and cuckooing."

Cuckooing refers to taking over the home of a vulnerable person in order to establish a base for illegal drug dealing, while County Lines describes criminal activity in which drug dealers in major cities establish networks for the supply and sale of drugs to users in towns and rural areas, using other people.