Living The High Life
24 Hours in Police Custody returns to Bedfordshire on Monday 2 December. The episode follows a case investigated by the force’s Serious Fraud Investigation team which saw a vulnerable man stripped of his life savings.
With his niece as the main suspect, officers uncover more than £200,000 worth of fraudulent transactions.
The investigation takes a turn as detectives discover a link to a separate investigation led by our Boson Guns and Gangs unit, where officers are looking into an organised crime group supplying class A drugs throughout the Biggleswade area and exploiting young people to do so.
‘Living the High Life’ exposes some of devastating damage the drugs trade has on innocent and vulnerable people.
Spot The Signs
Tackling exploitation is everyone’s business, by knowing the signs to spot you can ring the alarm and end the abuse.
Organised crime is the driver for much of the violence, exploitation and anti-social behaviour which damages our communities in Bedfordshire. If we stop organised crime, we would all be a lot safer.
Spot the signs
- Wealth and expensive possessions beyond what someone can afford
- Multiple mobile phones or specialist 'encrypted' phones which look similar but slightly different to normal handsets
- Large amounts of cash
- Luxury items such as jewellery and clothes which can be easily paid for using cash
- Hidden weapons at their home
- Business or financial services being used to hide or launder money
County lines gangs will target children to sell drugs and carry weapons. They can be sent across the country, travelling by train, bus or taxi.
Signs to spot
- Regularly going missing
- Having expensive items like clothes, cash and trainers
- Lots of different mobile phones
- Relationships with older people
- Unexplained injuries
- Phrases like going country, going cunch, trap house, plugging and bando
- Lots of train and bus tickets
Drug dealers will take over the home of a vulnerable person in order to use it as a base for their criminal work.
Signs to spot
- People entering the property or lots and cars and bikes outside
- Anti-social behaviour and litter outside
- People coming and going at strange times
- Damage to the property door, or the door being propped open
- Unknown people pressing buttons to gain access to the building
- You have not seen the resident recently, or when you have, they have been anxious or distracted
- No engagement
- The resident will not open the door of their property
- Phone disconnected
Boson
Boson is committed to dismantling organised crime groups and protecting the wider community from the violence these crimes often cause.
Need to report something?
Follow the link below to report a crime or issue to us using our online reporting forms.
We have also have a wealth of advice and information on our website to keep you safe and help you understand the law.
Reporting anonymously
Crimestoppers is a free and independent service that is available 24/7 for you anonymously report information about a crime.
Your anonymity is 100% guaranteed.
They will not ask your name or any information that could identify who you are or where you’re calling from. Your computer and mobile phone IP addresses cannot be tracked or saved.
Their only interest is in the information you have that could support the police in solving crime.
You cannot be contacted by the police, nor will you be required to get in touch with us directly.
Information that leads to a significant break in a case may be rewarded with up to £1000 cash.
You can give information anonymously on the Crimestoppers website.