Understanding County Lines and Child Exploitation

At Mortimer Primary School, the safety and well-being of our pupils are our highest priority. We believe it is essential to provide parents and carers with information about potential risks, even those that may seem distant, such as County Lines.

What is County Lines?

County Lines is a form of criminal exploitation where criminal gangs groom and manipulate children and vulnerable people into transporting and selling illegal drugs across different locations in the UK.

https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/our-work/child-criminal-exploitation-and-county-lines/what-is-county-lines 

The term “County Lines” comes from the gangs using a dedicated, often cheap, mobile phone line (the “line”) to coordinate their drug sales between a large urban area (the “county”) and smaller towns or rural locations.

This is a type of Criminal Exploitation where the victims are often coerced, threatened, or tricked into carrying out these illegal activities.

⚠️ Signs of Exploitation to Look Out For

It’s important to understand that exploitation can happen to any child, regardless of background. Trust your instincts if you feel something is wrong.

Below are some potential signs that a child may be involved in or affected by County Lines activity:

Behavioural & Physical Signs Material & Social Signs
Are they always going missing from school or home for long periods? Do they suddenly have lots of money, new clothes, expensive gifts, or new mobile phones that they can’t explain?
Do they have unexplained injuries or frequently change their clothes or appearance? Are they associating with new, older individuals or groups you don’t know?
Do they seem scared, secretive, reserved, or withdrawn? Are they frequently travelling to unfamiliar towns or locations?
Are they self-harming or showing changes in their mood, anxiety, or behaviour? Are they carrying weapons or know people that have access to weapons?
Do they receive unusual phone calls or messages at strange times? Are they protective of their phone and unwilling to let you see it?

️ Key Terminology

You might hear certain words or phrases that relate to this type of exploitation:

  • Cuckooing: When drug dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person (like an elderly person or drug user) to use it as a base for drug dealing, often involving force or intimidation.

  • Going Country: A phrase used by gangs to describe sending a young person to another town or county to sell drugs.

  • Trapping, Trap House, Trap Line: Terms used for the act of selling drugs (trapping), the location where drugs are sold (trap house), and the phone used to take orders (trap line).

Where to Get Help and Find More Information

If you are worried about your child or any young person, you should never keep it to yourself.

  • If a child is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.

  • For non-emergencies, you can call 101.

Mortimer Primary School Safeguarding Contacts

Please contact the school’s safeguarding team immediately if you have any concerns about a pupil at Mortimer Primary:

  • Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Michaela Peacock

  • Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads: Peter Bennet and Zoe Silvanus

You can reach the safeguarding team via the main school office.

Further Information and Resources:

  • Fearless: Provides safe and confidential ways to give information about crime (anonymously).

    • Website: https://www.fearless.org/en/campaigns/county-lines

  • NSPCC: Offers learning resources and a dedicated helpline for adults concerned about a child.

    • Website: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-abuse-and-neglect/county-lines