POLICE officers in Salisbury have been visiting schools and hospital staff to raise awareness of the dangers linked to county lines drug gangs.

The visits were carried out by neighbourhood officers from Wiltshire Police as part of the national County Lines Intensification Week, which took place last week and aims to tackle drug networks that exploit young and vulnerable people to transport and sell drugs.

Salisbury neighbourhood officers PC Evans and PC Ramsay visited Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust to speak with staff at Salisbury District Hospital.

During the visit they discussed how hospital staff may encounter potential victims of county lines exploitation and the warning signs to look out for, as well as how concerns can be reported to police.

County lines refers to organised criminal networks that use dedicated phone lines to move and supply drugs, often exploiting children and vulnerable adults to carry drugs and money between towns and cities.

Police say raising awareness among frontline workers is a key part of disrupting the activity and identifying those who may be at risk.

The hospital, which provides acute and emergency care for around 225,000 people across Wiltshire, Dorset and Hampshire, is often one of the first places vulnerable people may come into contact with support services.

Specialist services at Salisbury District Hospital also support a much wider population of around 11 million people across southern England.

Officers from neighbourhood policing teams have also been visiting local schools during the week of action, speaking directly with young people about the risks linked to county lines gangs and how they recruit.

The awareness campaign forms part of wider efforts by Wiltshire Police and partner organisations to tackle drug supply networks and protect vulnerable people from exploitation.