1. Violence and Vulnerability
Alex Bridge
Service Manager – Adolescent Intervention and Prevention Team
Children’s Services

2. What is a County Line?
County Lines’ refer to the use of telephone/mobile numbers circulated to users in a particular area for ordering drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine (although cannabis and MDMA are also used). The telephone number is usually operated from outside the area. This is how the group builds their brand. Unlike other criminal activities where telephone numbers are changed on a regular basis, these telephone numbers are maintained and protected, often by gangs and organised crime groups which ‘target’ the areas, either because they have a good illegal economy (for example, a large number of drug users) or because they have decent transport links to London

3. County Lines – a national issue!
Criminal gangs are targeting children to move drugs and money in and out of cities and large towns. This is a national issue, but we need to be aware of criminal gangs, and to be able to spot the signs that our children may be being targeted.
These criminals are targeting children as young as 8-12 years old. They target children across all economic, ethnic and social groups.

4. Gangs – national picture
THEN – Street Gangs
NOW – County Lines
High visibility
Operate under the radar
Postcode dominated – no go areas, turf related violence
Cross county/cross country – turf wars are away from where the gang is based and in places where they want to operate
Bandanas – gang uniforms
Don’t want to come to attention
High social media presence – promotion –rap videos
Low social media presence in most cases
Disorganised
Highly organised crime networks
Common Features
Violence – often a high level
Drug use and selling
Difficult to exit once involved

5. Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)
Child Criminal Exploitation is common in county lines and occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18. The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Child Criminal Exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology. (Home Office, September 2018)
Criminal exploitation of children is broader than just county lines, and includes for instance children forced to work on cannabis farms or to commit theft.

6. Local Response
Formation of a Strategic Violence and Vulnerability Board to produce an overriding action plan that feeds into the 4 local boards: LSCB, SAB, CSP and Health and Wellbeing Board. Providing direction and Strategic oversight into addressing these issues.
Creation of the Adolescent Intervention and Prevention Team in Children’s Services from April 2018 to directly address the risks to children and young people.

7. Media Campaign - #SeeTheSigns
Targeting parents of children aged years old within the borough
Media coverage including trains, train stations, High Street, bus stops near to schools, Forum screen amongst others
Targeted advertising online through a range of multimedia outlets
Website with information online and dedicated address for self-reporting
Partial launch 15th October – full launch 22nd October 2018

8. Variations of these posters will be produced for use by schools and will change the wording to “Who’s controlling your friend”

9. Adolescent Intervention and Prevention Team
Working with young people at risk of or victim of exploitation (CSE/CCE) using relationship based practice underpinned by restorative principles
Children missing from home or education (CME), completion of Return to Home Interviews
Street Engagement Patrols, joint Police Operations, truancy visits
Preventative work with those at risk including CEOP interventions
Parenting groups: Take 3 and Non-Violence Resistance
Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) work

10. Educational Programme
Two (primary and secondary age) group work programmes have been designed to educate young people about the risks of gangs/knife crime/exploitation
Primary age year 5/6 – offered to all schools in the borough
Secondary age – will be rolled out to one year group – or targeted groups within all senior schools
All materials will be left with schools for future roll out
Offered out to those in priority first – you can request priority by ing

11. Training
A training review is being undertaken via the Violence & Vulnerability action plan
Existing CSE Champions are being trained in CCE using the Champions forums - quarterly s sent via LSCB to update the list on active CSE Champions

12. Contact and further information
All safeguarding referrals to be sent to MASH+, any preventative referrals sent to Early Help Single Front Door
Anything else then use
Website: See The Signs