The Core Risk: Glamorisation
The danger: County lines is sometimes portrayed in peer culture as offering money, status, and freedom. A poorly framed talk can reinforce that image. Lead with the reality — debt, control, isolation — not the recruiter's pitch.
Language Guide — Say This, Not That
| Instead of… | Say… | Why |
|---|
| "Drug gangs" | "Criminal networks" | "Gang" carries status; "network" is clinical and accurate |
| "They joined a gang" | "They were recruited" / "groomed" | Frames the young person as a victim |
| "They make good money" | "They're told they'll be paid. Most end up in debt." | Debt bondage is the reality — lead with it |
| "Travelling to the countryside to sell drugs" | "Sent somewhere they don't know anyone, with no way home, told what to do" | Isolation is the reality |
| "If you get caught, you'll go to prison" | "The person running the line won't go to prison. You will. They're protected — you're not." | Shifts frame from risk to exploitation |
Content Order
- 1. What county lines actually is — strip the glamour by making the mechanics concrete
- 2. Who benefits and who doesn't — the runner has no protection; the organiser does
- 3. The debt model — designed so it can never be paid off; you can't leave
- 4. The grooming process — starts with friendship, gifts, belonging; doesn't look like crime at first
- 5. What they can do — Modern Slavery Act 2015 means exploited children are victims with legal protection
What NOT to Say
- Do not describe amounts of money made at any level of the network
- Do not describe the operational structure in instructional detail
- Do not use slang you are not completely comfortable with — it reads as performing
- Do not suggest the only route out is "call the police" — for someone already in a line, this is not safe
If a Young Person's Reaction Suggests Involvement
- Note name, approximate words/behaviour, time — do not call it out in the room
- Do not change your session or draw attention to them
- Do not approach them directly in front of peers after the session
- Immediately after: speak to DSL privately, provide written observation
- DSL decides whether to refer to MASH — your role is to flag, not investigate
- If you believe the young person is at immediate risk: contact MASH directly, don't wait
DSL Written Note — After Every Session
Date · location · year group · number of pupils · observations · your contact details. This protects you and may be operationally significant later.