County Lines

What does County Lines mean?

County lines exploitation is the process by which gangs, usually from large urban areas, supply drugs to suburban and rural locations often using vulnerable children and young people to courier drugs and money.

Who can be involved?

Children can be vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation for a wide range of factors from living in poverty to a desire to earn “street cred” amongst their peers. It can also be carried out under the threat of severe violence or intimidation. Typically, gangs use mobile phone lines to facilitate drug orders and supply the users. They also use local property as a base; these often belong to a vulnerable adult and are obtained through force or coercion (known as ‘cuckooing’).

The County Lines process is now understood as a driving causal factor in youth violence and, in some cases, includes elements child trafficking.  An updated report by the National Crime Agency (NCA) has found that the use of ‘county lines’ by gangs, is a growing issue, and is exploiting ever-younger victims.

Signs and signals of County Lines or other forms of criminal exploitation include:

• Returning home late, staying out all night or going missing

• Being found in areas away from home

• Increasing drug use, or being found to have large amounts of drugs on them

• Being secretive about who they are talking to and where they are going

• Unexplained absences from school, college, training or work

• Unexplained money, phone(s), clothes or jewellery

• Having a second, old phone (i.e. not a smart phone)

• Increasingly disruptive or aggressive behaviour

• Using sexual, drug-related or violent language you wouldn’t expect them to know

• Coming home with injuries or looking particularly dishevelled

• Having hotel cards or keys to unknown places.

What should you do if you suspect a girl or boy is involved in County Lines or other gang activities?

Report this as a child protection issue to the Headteacher or Designated Safeguarding Lead.

The public or Parents/carers can report to the school or take concerns directly to the Police or to Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub at the local authority.