Detective Superintendent Gareth Williams Honoured with MBE for Fighting County Lines Crime
A hero cop who has spent 30 years battling children’s exploitation on Britain’s railways has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list.
County Lines Crusader Gets Top Honour
Detective Superintendent Gareth Williams of the British Transport Police (BTP) has been recognised for his groundbreaking work leading the BTP County Lines Taskforce. Since joining the force in 1992, Gareth has worked across covert ops, homicide, and domestic abuse cases but his biggest impact has come through tackling county lines drug gangs exploiting vulnerable kids and adults.
He kickstarted the taskforce in 2019 with successful funding bids, creating the first dedicated unit of its kind in the BTP. Under his leadership, the taskforce has smashed criminal networks and protected countless victims.
Impressive Stats That Show the Impact
- 2,342 arrests made
- 1,691 drug seizures
- £1.4 million in cash seized
- 570 weapons removed from gang networks
- 123 referrals to the National Referral Mechanism for trafficking victims
- 24 modern slavery charges brought
His focus on safeguarding has rescued hundreds from exploitation and pushed those traffickers behind bars. Through campaigns like “Don’t Take the Bait,” which reached 4.6 million teens, Gareth’s team has raised vital awareness about the dangers of county lines.
Words from Gareth and Authorities
“I am extremely proud for my achievements to be recognised in this way,” Gareth said. “Leading the County Lines Taskforce has been a privilege. We’ve made a real difference to exploited young people involved in drug supply on the railways.”
Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi added: “Gareth has been outstanding in safeguarding children and making the railway network safer. His relentless pursuit of criminals shows the very best of British Transport Police. We are hugely proud of him.”
With Gareth’s grit and dedication, Britain’s vulnerable are a little safer and the county lines scourge faces a serious fightback.
