County lines

County lines sees urban drug dealers, often from major cities such as London, move into suburban areas and market and coastal towns, using a dedicated mobile phone number or deal line to run their criminal operation.

Often the dealers will take advantage of and exploit vulnerable people, including children, to help move their drugs and money. In some cases they may also take over the homes of local vulnerable adults in a practice known as ‘cuckooing’ and will then use that house as a base for their business in the area.

There are many different types of crime linked to county lines – including violence, criminal and sexual exploitation, modern slavery, and of course drugs offences. 

Possible signs of people being victimised by those running county lines include:

• Changes in behaviour
• An unexplained amount of cash or new gifts such as clothes, jewellery, or expensive trainers
• Owning a number of mobile phones
• Unexplained travelling including train and bus tickets
• Regularly going missing or skipping school
• Physical signs of assault
• Using new or different vocabulary including slang words

If you have information about drug dealing in your area or if you’re concerned that someone you know may be involved in a county line, it’s important you contact your local force as soon as possible on 101 or call Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.