Child Criminal Exploitation and County Lines: Spotting the Signs

This International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, we turn our attention to an alarming and ever-growing safeguarding concern for parents, carers, and schools: child criminal exploitation (CCE). CCE is stereotypically associated with children from certain areas and socioeconomic backgrounds, but the reality is that CCE can happen to any child. With children so easily accessible via their mobile phones and other devices, it has become easier than ever for criminals and gangs to approach and exploit them, trapping them in a frightening cycle of abuse.

Child criminal exploitation takes a variety of forms, but in all cases it involves a young person under the age of 18 who is being coerced, controlled, manipulated or deceived into taking part in criminal activity. Children may be forced to commit theft; transport, store and sell illicit drugs; or engage in other forms of organised crime. Quite often these activities will appear to be consensual, when in reality the child is being manipulated and may not even realise it.

One of the most concerning forms of CCE is known as “county lines”, which refers to the exporting of illegal drugs into different areas of the UK, coordinated via dedicated mobile phone lines, or “deal lines”. County lines networks exploit children and vulnerable adults in a devastating way, using them to store and transport drugs and money, and putting them in the direct way of harm. Tactics of county lines networks include manipulation, intimidation, coercion, physical violence (including sexual violence), the use of weapons, and the engineering of debt bonds that keep children and their families trapped in financial problems.

All of this can be either organised or carried out via technology. In fact, no physical contact needs to take place for a child to be criminally exploited and for their life to be put at risk. County lines ringleaders use technology such as social media cleverly and anonymously, making them both far-reaching and hard to catch.

There are some signs that parents, carers and school staff can look out for in young people who may be suffering from some form of criminal exploitation, such as county lines.

Ten of these key signs are:

1. Frequently going missing from home and being truant from school. If a child is found to be in a different area from where they live or attend school, this should be cause for alarm.

2. Having unexplained gifts and amounts of money, such as a new mobile phone (or a second mobile phone), new clothing, jewellery, and so on.

3. Being very anxious around their mobile phone and refusing to be separated from it. In county lines, those used for drug trafficking are expected to respond immediately and could incur serious consequences for not doing so.

4. General changes in behaviour that can’t easily be explained, such as appearing more withdrawn, secretive, anxious, or depressed.

5. Moving in a different circle from their usual friends. This could be especially concerning if their new friends group is older than they are.

6. Increased interest in making money. This could be in the form of asking to taking on part-time work or searching online for money-making opportunities.

7. Unusually disruptive, aggressive or hostile behaviour at home or at school, including the use of age-inappropriate language or language associated with drugs, violence, gangs, and sexual behaviour.

8. Coming home much later than usual or expected, and having possessions one would not expect them to have (such as evidence of drugs, large purchase receipts, hotel cards or unknown keys).

9. Spending more time than usual online and being secretive about their online activity, such as which apps and websites they are using and who they are talking with online.

10. An unexplained decline in academic performance. Ideally this will be flagged by the school and discussed with parents and guardians as soon as possible to help support the child.

It takes a network of people and organisations to safeguard a child, and between the school and home it is hoped that these physical changes in a child and their behaviour can be successfully spotted and acted upon before irreparable damage has been done.

How can Senso.cloud help?

Here at Senso, we are committed to expanding our monitoring and filtering capabilities to try and help schools identify as many safeguarding concerns as possible. This summer, we will be releasing our new keywords library for Child Criminal Exploitation and County Lines to help cover any online activity that might indicate a risk to a child’s safety as a result of possible CCE. Sign up to our upcoming newsletter to hear more about what we’re doing to support schools and DSLs.

Looking for more information and training for your staff? Our Learning Management System, Senso Learn, features a catalogue of safeguarding courses that cover the signs of CCE as well as a host of other safeguarding concerns. Our courses are expertly created with the help of our safeguarding specialist partner, South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL).