County lines is when gangs and organised crime groups exploit children to transport and sell drugs, normally between big cities where the exploiters are based to smaller towns, sometimes across county boundaries and into country areas. The children have dedicated mobile phone ‘lines’ for taking orders for drugs; children are used as they are less likely to be stopped by police, allowing adult dealers to avoid the risk of arrest. County lines is a form of criminal exploitation; this occurs where a person or a group of people takes advantage of their contact with and influence over a young person to coerce or manipulate them into carrying out a criminal act. County Lines is happening in Somerset and whilst Brymore does not have any known students caught up within the network we need to ensure that all parents, carers, staff and our boys are aware that knowledge is power when it comes to this form of exploitation. A useful YouTube video explaining County Lines can be viewed here:
