What is County Lines?
County lines is a form of criminal exploitation in which criminal networks — typically based in large urban centres — use children, young people, and vulnerable adults to transport controlled drugs to suburban areas, market towns, and rural locations. The term "line" refers to the dedicated mobile phone number used to receive drug orders in the target location.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) defines county lines as: "where illegal drugs are transported from one area to another, often across police and local authority boundaries, usually by children or vulnerable people who are coerced into it by gangs."
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The line | The dedicated phone number (often a burner) used for drug orders in the market town |
| The runner | Person — often a child — transporting drugs between the hub city and market town |
| Hub city | Origin location of the drug network (commonly London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool) |
| Market town | Target location where drugs are sold; may be a smaller town unfamiliar to local police |
| Cuckooing | Taking over a vulnerable person's home (often a drug user's address) to use as a base for dealing |
| Going OT / going country | Travelling out of town to work on a county line |
| Debt bondage | Manufactured debt used to coerce continued participation; often created deliberately by the network |
Scale and Impact
County lines operations have been identified across all 43 police force areas in England and Wales (NPCC/NCLCC, Disrupting County Lines Policing Strategy 2024–2027). The NPCC's National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) recorded 6,644 active county lines in 2023–24, rising to over 6,500 by 2024–25 — growth attributed partly to improved police recording practices (NPCC, Annual County Lines Strategic Threat Assessment 2024–25). Children as young as 11 have been identified as runners. The Centre for Social Justice (Criminal Exploitation: Modern Slavery by Another Name, 2024) found that in 61% of local authorities responding, two thirds or more of children referred to the National Referral Mechanism for criminal exploitation were a child in need or looked after child at the time of referral.
County lines is child criminal exploitation (CCE). Children involved are victims of exploitation, not willing participants in criminal activity. Officers must approach all contact with young people through a safeguarding lens. Arrest and prosecution of child runners without considering their victim status is contrary to the CPS charging guidance and the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (s.45 defence).
The Recruitment and Grooming Sequence
County lines networks do not randomly select children. Recruitment is deliberate and follows a recognisable sequence. Understanding this sequence helps officers identify children at each stage of exploitation — before they are fully embedded in the network.
Behavioural Indicators in Young People
No single indicator confirms county lines exploitation. Officers should look for clusters of indicators, and changes from the young person's baseline behaviour. The following list is not exhaustive.
Movement and Absence
- Repeatedly missing from home, school, or care placement — especially overnight or for multiple days
- Unable to account clearly for their whereabouts; vague or inconsistent explanations
- Known to travel to unfamiliar towns or cities; found in locations distant from home
- References to places outside their usual geography (market towns, "up north", "down south")
- Frequently travelling by coach, train, or taxi with unclear purpose
People and Relationships
- New, older associates (often significantly older — 18–30s) not known to family or previous network
- Withdrawal from long-standing friends and family members
- Older "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" the family have not met and cannot contact independently
- Significant changes in peer group over a short period
- Adults communicating on the young person's behalf; child cannot speak freely in their presence
Money and Possessions
- Unexplained money — cash, mobile credit, or spending beyond family means
- New expensive possessions: trainers, clothes, jewellery, electronics — with no credible explanation
- Carrying more than one mobile phone, or a phone that is unknown to family
- Paying for things for others (friends, food, transport) without apparent means
Demeanour and Wellbeing
- Increased fearfulness, anxiety, or hyper-vigilance — especially when police are present
- Reluctance to speak in front of certain individuals; coached or practised responses
- Physical injuries, particularly to hands, face, or torso — inconsistently explained
- Signs of drug or alcohol misuse
- Deteriorating school attendance, grades, or behaviour following a period of stability
- Use of language associated with drug supply (see Section 4)
- Appears malnourished, tired, or unkempt beyond their usual presentation
Contextual safeguarding (Firmin, 2017) recognises that exploitation often happens outside the home. A child who appears safe at home may be being exploited in their peer group, school, or neighbourhood context. Do not dismiss concerns simply because a parent reports nothing wrong at home.
Language Decoder — What They Say vs. What's Happening
Young people involved in county lines typically deflect, minimise, or use coded language when speaking to authorities. The following table translates common statements and phrases officers may encounter. It is not a definitive list — language evolves rapidly and varies by geography.
| What the young person says | What may actually be happening | Officer response |
|---|---|---|
| "He's just my mate — he helps me out" | Describes a groomer/controller using friendship as a control mechanism. "Helping out" may involve providing money, gifts, or accommodation in exchange for criminal activity. | Ask more — Who introduced them? How long have they known them? What do they get from this person? |
| "I'm just earning some money / doing bits" | Running drugs under coercion. "Doing bits" is widely understood slang for low-level drug supply. The young person may believe they are in a consensual arrangement. | Safeguarding concern — Explore nature of "work", who pays them, what they carry. |
| "I'm staying at a friend's" / "I'm at [place]" | May be staying at a cuckooed address or a network safe house. Address details are often vague or changeable. | Verify — Check address, who else is there, how long they have been staying. |
| "I don't know anything about it" | Fear of retribution prevents disclosure, not ignorance. This response is frequently trained — the child has been told what to say if stopped by police. | Do not challenge directly. Record the response. Note demeanour. Provide a means to contact if they want to talk later (Childline, etc.). |
| "He owes me money" / "I owe him money" | Debt bondage — either the child is being used to recover a manufactured debt, or they are themselves in debt to the network and working it off. | Significant risk — Explore the nature of the debt, when it arose, and what the consequences of non-payment are described as. |
| "I'm going country" / "going OT" | Direct county lines terminology for travelling to a market town to deal drugs. If a young person uses this phrase, they are likely already embedded in a network. | Immediate referral — This indicates active exploitation. Refer to police intelligence and MASH immediately. |
| "Trapping" / "shotting" | "Trapping" = dealing from a fixed address (often a cuckooed property). "Shotting" = actively selling drugs in an area. | Criminal activity confirmed, but victim status must be assessed. Refer to MASH alongside any criminal procedure. |
| "I was just holding it for someone" | Frequently true — children are used as holders because they carry lower criminal risk. This does not diminish their victim status. | Apply Modern Slavery Act 2015 s.45 analysis. Refer to MASH. Explore who asked them to hold it and what they were told. |
Common County Lines Slang Reference
- The food / the buff — drugs being supplied
- Re-up — replenishing drug supply
- The trap / trap house — address used for dealing (cuckooed property)
- The ting — a weapon, or sometimes a phone
- Riding dirty — travelling whilst carrying drugs
- Burner / sket — disposable mobile phone
- Peng — high quality (drugs)
- Drop — a drug delivery
- Working — actively dealing drugs
- Elders — older, more senior network members who direct younger runners
- Youngers — children and young people used as runners
Note: Slang evolves rapidly and is geographically variable. Do not use unfamiliarity with a term as grounds to dismiss a safeguarding concern.
Cuckooing — Identifying Exploited Properties
Cuckooing refers to the takeover — through coercion, deception, or force — of a vulnerable person's home for use as a base for drug dealing. The occupant is typically a drug user, sex worker, or person with mental health difficulties who is unable to resist or report the takeover. Children and young people may be based at these addresses during county lines trips.
Who is cuckooed?
- Adults with substance dependencies — dealers offer drugs in exchange for use of the property
- Individuals with significant mental health difficulties
- Adults in debt — the address is taken over as "payment"
- Isolated individuals who are socially vulnerable and less likely to report to police
- People in social housing — social landlords are increasingly trained to recognise signs
Signs at the address
- High volume of foot traffic — frequent brief visits, day and night, by unknown individuals
- Multiple unknown individuals present inside the property simultaneously
- Curtains closed at all hours; unusual hours of activity
- Signs of drug use or paraphernalia visible (if entry is lawful)
- Multiple mobile phones, SIM cards, or cash visible
- Scales, cling film, or packaging consistent with drug preparation
- Property that appears stripped, dirty, or depleted of normal household items
- Unfamiliar vehicles parked outside for extended periods
- Neighbours reporting concerns about foot traffic or disturbance
Signs from the occupant
- Appears fearful, distressed, or unkempt; may be hungry or sleep-deprived
- Unable to speak freely — third parties speak for them or remain present throughout
- Inconsistent or rehearsed account of who is visiting and why
- Visible injuries, particularly if inconsistently explained
- Signs of recent drug use beyond the occupant's usual pattern
- Reports from family or neighbours of a change in the occupant's behaviour
- Treat the occupant as a potential victim first — record concerns even if no immediate grounds for action
- Where possible, speak to the occupant separately from any other individuals present
- Use open questions: "How are you? Is everything OK at home? Are you happy for these people to be here?"
- Any children or young people present must be checked against missing persons and local intelligence
- Record intelligence on all individuals present — vehicle details, names given, appearance
- Refer the occupant to MASH if they are a vulnerable adult; children to children's social care immediately
- Consider a referral to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) if trafficking/modern slavery indicators are present
Legal Powers
Where there are reasonable grounds to believe a child is at risk of significant harm at an address, officers may apply for a Police Protection Order (Children Act 1989, s.46) to remove the child to suitable accommodation without a warrant. For entry to premises in an emergency, s.17 PACE 1984 (saving life or limb) may apply. Always document the safeguarding rationale for any entry.