The harm of County Lines and 'Cuckooing' on Newtown and the surrounding community is to be discussed at a public meeting in the town.
The meeting has been organised by Newtown Powys County Councillor Mark Barnes with the police and county council.
He says the event will highlight the risks of drug gangs from outside the area on the local community, helping parents and others to know what you look out for.
The event will be ticket only due to capacity and will be held at Latham Park on 31 January. Tickets can be booked here.
"If you live in Newtown or the surrounding area, whether you have children or not, this meeting is aimed at you and concerns the safety and security of Mid Wales residents," said Cllr Barnes.
"Defined by Fearless.Org, County Lines is a very serious issue where criminal gangs set up a drug-dealing operation in a place outside their usual operating area.
"Gangs will move their drug dealing from big cities (e.g. London, Manchester, Liverpool etc.) to smaller towns in order to make more money. This can have a really big effect on the community who live there and bring with it serious criminal behaviour," he added.
Following a recent presentation to Powys County Council on County Lines and Cuckooing, Cllr Mark Barnes said he has worked with the council and the Police to create the free community event to raise this very real and under-reported issue facing Newtown and its residents.
"This essential meeting for Newtown residents especially, but not exclusively, families will expose what is going on under our noses and demonstrate how the community can help the police drive these gangs from our town.
"If you think this is or isn't taking place in your street or your children aren't exposed to this, then you need to be at this event so that you can be made more aware," he said.
Residents who attend will learn more about the issue of County Lines and Cuckooing, how Newtown Police are addressing the issues and learn what to look out for.
"Evidence of these activities are playing out in our streets, cul-de-sacs and closes and you will leave better equipped to report activity to the police," said Cllr Barnes.
