You may not have heard the term before, but you have more than likely come across county lines through a whole host of streaming platforms and TV programmes, such as Top Boy and Line of Duty. Whilst these programmes may dramatise the criminal nature of county lines, the reality is all around us on a daily basis and is far less glamourous.
So, what exactly are ‘county lines’? County lines are the organised criminal distribution of drugs from big cities into smaller towns and rural areas. County lines organisations use exploitation to engage children and vulnerable people as ‘runners’ within the network, delivering and moving drugs, and also to carry out other roles. The networks predominantly focus on the distribution of so called ‘hard drugs’ such as heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines, although occasionally cannabis is also moved in this way. Disposable or ‘burner’ mobile phones are used to take orders. These are known as ‘deal lines’ County lines are linked to a number of other criminal activities such as: • • • •
gang violence and activity weapons/firearms-related crime criminal and sexual exploitation modern slavery
Some Key Facts • • • • • • •
An individual ‘county line’ can generate in excess of £800,000 profit per year There are thought to be over 1000 individually branded ‘county lines’ across the UK There are thought to be in excess of 2000 ‘deal lines’ linked to these ‘county lines’ 15% of county lines originate from the Metropolitan Police Force area 9% of county lines originate from the West Midlands Police Force area 7% of county lines originate from the Merseyside Police Force area 91% of individuals linked to county line offending are male
(Source: National Crime Agency)
Who is vulnerable to exploitation by county lines organisations? As described earlier, children and other vulnerable people are most at risk from exploitation, however, vulnerabilities can come in various forms. Any vulnerability is a potential target and this means that there is a broad profile for potential victims.