“You’re not welcome here!” - that’s the message for ‘County Lines’ drug gangs from Newtown residents who attended a packed out meeting at Newtown Football Club last week.

Over two hundred people crammed into a meeting at Latham Park aimed at spotting the signs associated with drug gangs and the dangers they pose to local communities.

County Councillor Mark Barnes, who represents Newtown West and Llanllwchaiarn, said he had worked with the Council and the Police to create the event to raise awareness of what he says is a ‘very real and under-reported issue’ facing Newtown and its residents.

“It was a packed event and went extremely well,” he said.

“People were shocked by what is going on in the town and left the meeting with a strong intent to look for signs of county lines activity and cuckooing.

“The good news is that this is a problem we can fix in our communities and if we’ve got 12-to-14,000 people looking out for it we can drive it out of our town.

“We’d like to take the meeting further and endeavour to make Newtown the first completely county lines free area in Wales.”

Last year, Dyfed Powys Police made dozens of arrests in an operation targeting the so-called County Lines gangs, known as “Operation Regent”.

Speaking after the arrests Powys Chief Inspector Matt Scrase said the gangs would not be tolerated in Powys.

“Our action to disrupt supply should clearly demonstrate to travelling criminals that this will not be tolerated in Powys. We may be a rural community but we are a community that works closely with our residents and partners to gather information and respond to their concerns,” he said.

“I must also urge people to contact us - or Crimestoppers if they would prefer to pass on information anonymously - if they suspect drug dealing or cuckooing in their town, village or street.

“Make sure you’re aware of the signs, such as people coming and going from an address all times of day and night, curtains closed all the time or an increase in anti-social behaviour.”