what are county lines?
County Lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in dealing illegal drugs, using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of ‘deal line.’ The gang activity is associated with drug dealing, vulnerable people, exploitation and violence.
County Lines has a devastating impact on young people, vulnerable adults and local communities.
Gangs will use children and vulnerable people to move drugs and money, by criminally exploiting them. They will also seek to establish a base in target locations, typically taking over the homes of local vulnerable adults by force or coercion – this is referred to as ‘cuckooing’.
People exploited in this way will quite often be exposed to physical, mental and sexual abuse, and in some instances will be trafficked to areas a long way from home as part of the network’s drug dealing business.
What are the signs?
- New clothes, mobile phone or more cash than normal
- Frequently going missing (often for days) before returning
- Using nicknames to refer to other people
- Speaking of gang names in the area
- A new boyfriend or girlfriend who may coerce or control the individual
- Truancy, exclusion, disengagement from school
- Changes in the way young people you might know dress
- Unexplained injuries
- An increase in visitors and cars to a house or flat
- New faces appearing at the house or flat
- New and regularly changing residents (e.g different accents compared to local accent)
- Change in resident’s mood and/or demeanour (e.g. secretive/ withdrawn/ aggressive/ emotional)
- Substance misuse and/or drug paraphernalia
- Residents you know going missing, maybe for long periods of time
- Young people seen in different cars/taxis driven by unknown adults
- Young people seeming unfamiliar with your community or where they are
- Truancy, exclusion, disengagement from school
- An increase in anti-social behaviour in the communitymight know dress
- Unexplained injuries
- Is the person who lives at the address vulnerable?