ESSEX Police have teamed up with a children’s author to launch a competition as part of an awareness campaign about ''county lines' drug dealing.
The contest involves young people writing a poem or song to highlight the dangers of drug gangs trying to lure victims into a life of crime.
Participants in the competition are split into two age-groups – one for those aged 12 to 16, and another for those aged 17 to 21 – with the winner taking home a £200 prize.
Those in second will win £100, and those in third will win £50.
Christina Gabbitas, who is best known for writing Welcome to the World of Felicity Fly – and more recently produced the animated story Trapped in County Lines – has helped to launch the competition.
Her recent publications focus on how young people are exploited by drug dealers who groom them into transporting, storing and dealing drugs on their behalf.
Chief Insp Ian Hughes, who is part of the Essex Police serious violence unit, will be one of the 40 judges reading the songs and poems.
He said: “We know only too well the devastating effects on children and young people who are victims of exploitation, and associated topics such as knife crime.
“Our teams have been out this week for part of Operation Sceptre, an initiative to tackle knife crime across the UK, bringing together all 43 police forces and British Transport Police in a week of intensified action.
“We as a force take early intervention education very seriously, and support the work that Christina is undertaking.”
Mrs Gabbitas added: “Since I began my work on the issue of county lines, I have spoken to many people who have had first-hand experience of how criminals exploit our young people.
“I have spoken to parents who are in desperation after seeing their child trapped by these gangs.
“It’s vital that we get the message across early and raise awareness with young people of how they can become trapped, and what may seem like a friendship at first, quickly escalates into something more sinister which can take their life down a destructive path.”
Submissions should be sent to info@christinagabbitas.com by Sunday, June 30, and more information about the competition can be found at www.trappedincountylines.co.uk/competition.
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