📱 County Lines & Child Criminal Exploitation

⚖️ What is County Lines?

Police term for urban gangs supplying drugs to suburban, market and coastal towns using dedicated mobile phone lines ("deal lines"). Key features:

• Uses children and vulnerable adults to move drugs and money
• Cuckooing — taking over the home of a vulnerable adult by force or coercion for drug dealing
• Cross-cutting: drugs, violence, gangs, CSE, modern slavery, missing persons
• Exploitation is NOT negated by apparent consent
• Child is a victim even if they appear willing

⚠️ Indicators in Children

• Unexplained cash, expensive gifts, new clothes or phones
• Multiple phones or SIM cards
• Staying out late, overnight absences, or going missing
• Returns home tired, hungry, or withdrawn
• Secretive about phone use and movements
• Associating with older males or unknown adults
• Injuries inconsistent with explanation
• School absences increasing; declining engagement
• Using unfamiliar language or gang slang

🏠 Cuckooing — Signs

Cuckooing is a form of modern slavery. Indicators in an adult's home:

• Increased visitor traffic, especially at night
• Unfamiliar people answering the door or present in the home
• Drug paraphernalia at the property
• Resident appears fearful, controlled, or absent from home
• Unusual activity at unusual hours
• Resident has new or unknown "friends"

Cuckooing victim should be treated as a safeguarding concern under Care Act 2014 s.42 AND as a potential modern slavery victim for NRM referral

🔗 Missing & CCE Link

Missing episodes are a strong county lines indicator. Every missing episode should trigger a Return Home Interview (RHI).

• RHI must be independent (not family or school)
• Use Return Home Interview to explore exploitation
• Cross-refer missing history to MASH CCE lead
• Consider a Child Protection referral if missing pattern repeats
• Police should consider Section 46 Emergency Protection if immediate danger on return

📋 Referral Pathway

• Step 1: Identify concerns — use KCSIE 2025 indicators and professional judgement
• Step 2: Refer to MASH via s.17/s.47 threshold as appropriate
• Step 3: If modern slavery suspected → NRM referral (child: without consent)
• Step 4: Ensure RHIs are completed after each missing episode
• Step 5: Avoid interrogating the child — trained professionals only
• Remember: Apply MSA 2015 s.45 if child faces criminal charges

📞 Key Contacts