County Lines

Help us prevent the criminal exploitation of young and vulnerable people.

A ‘county line’ is a term used to describe an organised criminal network using dedicated mobile phone numbers to move illegal drugs into an area.

The gangs are likely to exploit children and young people and vulnerable adults to move and store the drugs and money. They will often use coercion, intimidation, violence and weapons.

You can help by reporting suspicious behaviour:

• report suspicious activity to the police online or phone 101 - You can report only what you know or have seen, without giving your name

• you can also give information to Crimestoppers anonymously or phone 0800 555111

• you should phone 999 if somebody is in immediate danger or a crime is taking place.

If somebody you know shows any of these signs, they might be involved in county lines activity:

• they often go missing from home, school or college

• having more than one mobile phone or being edgy or anxious after receiving calls and texts

• unexplained money, clothes or gifts

• unexplained injuries

• a new friendship group, including older young people and adults – or dropping old friends, hobbies and interests

• being in trouble with the Police or being found with drugs

• uncharacteristic changes in behaviour

• you may hear words like Going country, OT, Trapping, Cuckooing, ‘G’, ‘Q’, Shotter and Plugging

• they carry weapons or know people that have access to weapons

• they are self-harming.

These links to local organisations and national drug-support specialists provide more information about county lines, child exploitation and safeguarding:

• Cambridgeshire Constabulary - County lines

• Cambridgeshire County Council - Accessing support for your family

• Cambridgeshire County Council - Safeguarding children and child protection

• Childline - Free counselling service for kids and young people

• The Children's Society - County Lines and Child Exploitation

• Fearless | Crimestoppers - Give information about crime 100% anonymously

• Ivison Trust - Criminal exploitation

• NSPCC - Criminal exploitation and gangs

• NSPCC Learning - Protecting children from county lines

• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership Board - Safeguarding Children Partnership Board

• St Giles Trust - Turning a past into a future.

Spot the signs, cut county lines.