What are County Lines? | Safeguarding Children from Drug Trafficking
The issue of county lines is a pressing concern for safeguarding teams in schools across the UK.
County lines refer to a form of criminal exploitation where urban drug dealers expand their operations into smaller towns and rural areas. This involves grooming and manipulating vulnerable children and young people to transport, store, and sell drugs.
These operations often lead to severe emotional, psychological, and physical harm for the young people involved, which is why implementing effective safeguarding measures are essential to protect them.
Understanding County Lines
The Recruitment Process
Children as young as 12 can be targeted by county lines gangs. The recruitment process typically involves:
Grooming: gangs may befriend vulnerable children, offering gifts, money, or a sense of belonging
Manipulation: gradually, these children are coerced into running errands, which escalate to drug trafficking
Exploitation: once involved, threats and violence are often used to ensure compliance and silence
Identifying Vulnerable Children
Vulnerable children are often targeted due to factors such as poverty, family breakdowns, social isolation, learning difficulties and/or mental health issues.
Children from low-income families or who are experiencing domestic unrest at home may be more susceptible, as well as those with few friends or no real support network in place.
If a child has a learning disability or suffers from poor mental health, they may not fully grasp the implications of their actions and are therefore more easily coerced.
Signs of County Lines Involvement
It’s essential for safeguarding teams to be vigilant and recognise the following signs of county lines involvement in their students:
Regularly missing school or being absent without explanation
Sudden aggression, secrecy, or withdrawal from family and friends
Possessing expensive items or large amounts of money with no clear source
Bruises or other injuries that the child is reluctant to explain
Tackling County Lines with imabi Inspire
Safeguarding teams in schools play a pivotal role in identifying and addressing county lines exploitation.
Our app, imabi Inspire, offers an innovative solution tailored for educational environments, providing tools that can significantly enhance your school’s ability to protect students.
Here are some of the key features of imabi Inspire for tackling county lines:
Geo-Location Services:
imabi Inspire includes advanced geo-location services that can help monitor the whereabouts of students. This feature allows schools to track unexplained absences more effectively and identify patterns that might indicate involvement in county lines activities.Real-Time Alerts:
The app sends real-time alerts to safeguarding teams when students exhibit signs of distress or unusual behaviour. This prompt response capability ensures that timely interventions can be made, potentially preventing further exploitation.Comprehensive Reporting:
imabi Inspire provides a dashboard that offers detailed reports on student behaviour and attendance. These reports help safeguarding teams to identify at-risk individuals and monitor any changes over time, allowing for proactive measures to be taken.Secure Communication:
The app facilitates secure communication channels between students and safeguarding staff. Children who might be involved in or at risk of county lines exploitation can discreetly seek help and support without fear of reprisal.Educational Resources:
imabi Inspire includes a library of educational resources on county lines and other safeguarding issues. This ensures that staff, students, and parents are well-informed about the risks and signs of exploitation, fostering a community-wide approach to safeguarding.
County lines exploitation is a significant threat to the safety and wellbeing of young people across the UK. Safeguarding teams in schools must be equipped with the knowledge and tools to identify and address this issue effectively.
imabi Inspire offers a comprehensive solution allowing schools to take proactive steps to protect vulnerable children from the dangers of county lines and ensure a safer, more supportive environment for all.
For more information on how imabi Inspire can help your school tackle county lines, visit our website or contact our team today.
