Crimestoppers
Fearless
County Lines
Combatting the exploitation of children and vulnerable people by criminal gangs
What are County Lines?
County Lines is a term used for organised illegal drug-dealing networks, usually controlled by a person using a single telephone number, or ‘deal line’.
Serious organised criminals, often from big cities, recruit vulnerable children and adults, often in rural and suburban areas, as 'runners' to transport drugs and cash all over the country, often using the rail network or taxis and other private hire vehicles, so that the criminals behind it can remain detached and less likely to be detected.
Key places where county lines gangs target, approach and manipulate vulnerable young people include schools and social care spaces, street grooming and increasingly digital channels including social media, private chat apps and online gaming.
Advertising for “runners”, they glamorise gang life and entice young people who might otherwise feel like they have no options for the future, once they have their attention, they coerce their victims to commit criminal acts in return for rewards.
Most victims end up feeling 'trapped' in this criminal underworld, experiencing violence, intimidations, and threats.
This crime is often associated with other serious crimes such as sexual exploitation, violence, money laundering and human trafficking.
What happens?
Criminal gangs establish a base in a particular location, sometimes by taking over the homes of local vulnerable adults by force or coercion in a practice referred to as ‘cuckooing’ (see below). They then target vulnerable local children and adults to become involved in selling drugs through a process of grooming. Once someone is involved with a criminal gang, it becomes difficult for them to escape.
As of July 2023, the Children’s Commissioner for England believes that at least 27,000 children are County Lines gang members, with 4,000 in London alone. (Source.)
Criminals running County Lines will set up a base in a rural area or small town for a short time, taking over the home of a vulnerable person, ‘cuckooing’ them (named after the cuckoo's practice of taking over other birds' nests for its young).
Victims of ‘cuckooing’ are often drug users, but can include older people, those suffering from mental or physical health problems, female sex workers, single parents and those living in poverty. Victims may suffer from other forms of addiction, such as alcoholism.
Some people may be forced to leave their homes, making themselves homeless and leaving the gangs free to sell drugs in their absence.
- A child or young person going missing from school or home, or significant changes in emotional well-being.
- A person meeting unfamiliar adults or a change to their behaviour.
- The use of drugs and alcohol.
- Unexplained bus or train tickets.
- Acquiring money or expensive gifts they can’t account for.
- Lone children from outside of the area.
- Individuals with multiple mobile phones, tablets or SIM cards.
- Use of unusual terms - e.g. "going country".
- Young people with more money, expensive clothing, or accessories than they can account for.
- Unknown or suspicious-looking characters coming and going from a neighbour’s house.
- Relationships with controlling or older individuals, or associations with gangs.
- Suspicion of self-harm, physical assault, malnutrition or unexplained injuries.
Signs that cuckooing may be going on at a property include:
- An increase in people entering and leaving.
- An increase in cars or bikes outside.
- Possible increase in anti-social behaviour.
- Increasing litter outside.
- Signs of drugs use.
- Lack of healthcare visitors.
- Suspicious vehicles or people at an address.
- A neighbour has not been seen for a while. Or they are more distant than usual (with more visitors).
- Unusual activity at short term or holiday lets.
- Older member of the community unexpectedly driving around unknown individuals.
Apart from information involving spotting some or all of the signs mentioned above, we'd also like to know if you have details such as:
- Who is the potential victim? A name and address is always useful, but a physical description will also help.
- Who are the perpetrators? Do you have names and addresses? Can you describe what they look like?
- Can you give us information about a vehicle or vehicles involved? Make, model, colour, registration number?
If you suspect cuckooing is going on:
- Can you tell us where it's happening?
- Can you see a pattern of days/times these people visit the property?
What should you do if you have information about possible County Lines and/or cuckooing?
In an emergency, or if a crime is happening now, always call the police on 999.
If you have any information about somebody who has recently moved to set up an illegal drugs network and who may be using violence or abuse to carry out their activities, please let us know.
You can speak to our Contact Centre on 0800 555 111 or use our non-traceable online form here on our website. You will remain 100% anonymous. Always. We will never ask for your name, and your phone call or online report will never be traced.
give information 100% anonymously - Call 0800 555 111 or click here for our online form
Your information really can make a difference:
Gang members targeted: multiple pieces of information we received helped police uncover a County Lines operation using cryptocurrency to money launder after running out of places to hide their profits. Reports we received prompted a lengthy police investigation, which targeted a large number of gang members.
Drug gang arrests: information given to Crimestoppers helped secure numerous arrests of County Lines drug dealers who were selling crack and heroin. A series of raids at various addresses recovered large quantities of Class A drugs, cash and ‘burner’ mobile phones used to control this line.
Early intervention
To counter this problem, early intervention is essential. We invest in raising public awareness of this crime in the local community, encouraging people to step forward and report it.
We also help to train those on the ground to spot the signs of this problem in the young people they work with.
Crimestoppers’ youth programme Fearless visits schools to educate teachers and youth workers, by providing them with information and resources on County Lines and other crime issues, helping to challenge young people’s preconceptions and raise awareness of this exploitation.
Fearless also empowers young people to report their concerns 100% anonymously via the Fearless website.
Useful links
- Victim Support is an independent charity in England and Wales that provides specialist practical and emotional support to victims and witnesses of crime.
- #LookCloser is a partnership campaign between The Children’s Society, the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre and the British Transport Police, encouraging everyone to learn the signs of child exploitation and how to report it if worried, including here on our anonymous online form. The campaign also seeks to highlight that child exploitation can happen anywhere, and any young person can be a victim. Find out more at the campaign webpage.
- Catch 22 is a specialist support and rescue service for young people and their families who are criminally exploited through county lines.
- The SafeCall service, run by charity Missing People, offers confidential, non-judgemental support to young people and their families.
- For more advice on drugs, their effects and the law, talk to Frank.
- The Home Office also provides guidance for frontline professionals on dealing with County Lines, as a part of the government’s approach to ending gang violence and exploitation. Click here to see details of their advice.
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