COUNTY lines drug dealers are fuelling a growing tide of violent crime in Southend, a report has warned.

A health and wellbeing board report set to go before Southend councillors said gangs of drug dealers are exploiting “vulnerable populations with relative ease and impunity”.

The report adds: “The most worrying aspect is the growing violent nature of the interactions between gangs and local people and how this is being played out in public arenas.

“In addition, the growing use of Class A drugs in towns and cities across the country is a worrying trend which requires coordinated efforts from central Government, local partnerships and local communities, all working together.

The Southend area has seen a rise in knife crime and has launched a scheme to educate teachers on how to spot youngsters in danger of being caught up with county lines gangs.

A series of workshops are being held in the borough’s schools.

The report adds: “The local drug market is driving the violence and exploitation in Southend and it is key to developing effective and co-ordinated actions and responses.

“We need a better understanding of the complex drugs market in the borough and the supply and the demand – of class A drugs in particular – in order to limit the drug dealing activity that takes place in public spaces.

“This falls within the remit (although not exclusively) of Public health.

“The violence in the community has major impact on health services – A&E admissions – and related issues of exploitation such as sexual assaults/overdoses/mental health/ homelessness/drug and alcohol dependency.”

The board has come up with an action plan to gather local intelligence in a bid to “create a set of measures that sends a clear message to all members of the community (including victims and potential perpetrators) about the council’s resolve to fully understand and vigorously tackle the problem of violence and exploitation as a priority.”

The plan will focus on keeping all agencies fully briefed and trained on the issue, education and public awareness, safeguarding vulnerable people and wherever possible disrupting criminal behaviour.