County Lines

What are county lines?

County lines is a term used for organised illegal drug-dealing networks, usually controlled by a person using a single telephone number, or ‘deal line’.

Serious organised criminals, often from big cities, recruit vulnerable children and adults, often in rural and suburban areas, as 'runners' to transport drugs and cash all over the country, often using the rail network or taxis and other private hire vehicles, so that the criminals behind it can remain detached and less likely to be detected.

Key places where county lines gangs target, approach and manipulate vulnerable young people include schools and social care spaces, street grooming and increasingly digital channels including social media, private chat apps and online gaming.

Advertising for “runners”, they glamorise gang life and entice young people who might otherwise feel like they have no options for the future, once they have their attention, they coerce their victims to commit criminal acts in return for rewards.

Most victims end up feeling 'trapped' in this criminal underworld, experiencing violence, intimidations, and threats.

This crime is often associated with other serious crimes such as sexual exploitation, violence,  money laundering and human trafficking.