County Lines Exploitation: How Gangs Recruit Children
A frank examination of the tactics criminal gangs use to draw young people into county lines drug networks — and the warning signs to watch for.
What Is County Lines?
County lines is a term used by law enforcement to describe the model where criminal gangs — typically based in large cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester or Liverpool — use dedicated mobile phone lines to organise drug supply into smaller towns, coastal communities and rural areas.
Children and vulnerable young people are at the heart of this model. They are deliberately targeted, groomed and then exploited to transport drugs, hold cash, and manage supply at destination points — often called "trapping" or "going OT" (out of town).
Key Statistics (NCA, 2024)
- Over 2,000 county lines identified across England and Wales in 2023
- The NCA estimates tens of thousands of vulnerable people are exploited each year
- Children as young as 11 have been identified as victims of county lines exploitation
- 85% of children referred to safeguarding services via county lines are male; 15% female
How Gangs Recruit Children: The Grooming Process
Grooming for county lines exploitation follows deliberate stages that can take weeks or months:
- Targeting — Gangs look for vulnerable children: those in care, those with family problems, those who are lonely, excluded from school, or struggling financially.
- Befriending — An older peer or adult offers friendship, gifts (phones, trainers, food, money), and a sense of belonging or protection.
- Testing — Small, seemingly innocent tasks are asked of the child (hold this bag, deliver this parcel). Refusal is met with social pressure.
- Entrapping — Once the child has carried drugs or money, gangs use debt bondage, threats, or blackmail to prevent them leaving. The child may be told they "owe" money for the phone or gifts they were given.
- Exploitation — The child is sent to an address in another town (a "cuckooed" property, taken over from a vulnerable adult) to sell drugs, often for days at a time.
Warning Signs of County Lines Exploitation
- Unexplained absences from home or school ("going missing")
- Returning home late, appearing tired or distressed
- Possession of multiple mobile phones or SIM cards
- Unexplained cash, new clothes, or expensive items
- Associating with older people the family does not know
- References to "going OT", "country", or trips to unfamiliar towns
- Signs of physical harm, including unexplained bruising
- Becoming secretive, withdrawn, or suddenly changing friendship groups
How to Report and Get Help
- Modern Slavery Helpline: 08000 121 700 (24 hours, free, anonymous)
- NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
- Crimestoppers (anonymous): 0800 555 111
- Police (non-emergency): 101
- In an emergency: Always call 999
- Barnardo's County Lines programme: barnardos.org.uk
Sources: National Crime Agency, County Lines 2023–24 Assessment (2024); NSPCC, Child Criminal Exploitation: Learning from Case Reviews (2023); Home Office, Serious Violence Strategy (2018); HM Government, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023; Barnardo's, Groomed into Crime: County Lines Exploitation (2022). Last reviewed: April 2026.