County Lines & Criminal Exploitation
Our staff are very experienced in spotting the signs of criminal exploitation. We have supported numerous young people in breaking the cycle — safeguarding them and preventing further exploitation. This is one of those stories.
The context
County lines networks deliberately target young people who are vulnerable in some way. In this case, the young person was a cannabis user — and that was exactly what led the perpetrators to identify them as a person of interest, someone they believed they could exploit.
Our approach
- Education about exploitation. We carried out structured sessions helping the young person understand what criminal exploitation is and how perpetrators actually operate — the debts, the favours, the manufactured loyalty.
- Rapport before rules. Our staff team built up a great rapport and understanding with the young person. That trust meant they regularly opened up about the struggles and abuse they were facing — information that made real safeguarding possible.
- Practical safety planning. We sensitively taught the young person what to do whenever they felt they were in danger, giving them concrete steps rather than vague reassurance.
- Working with the family. We also carried out educational work with the young person's family, giving them the foundations and knowledge to keep the young person safe for the long term — not just while they were in our care.
The outcome
The efforts of our staff team prevented the young person from further harm and abuse. The relationship they built with our members directly supported their protection — and directly led to the young person trusting the police enough to support the prosecution of the perpetrators.
The young person returned to the care of family members and has remained safe and free from exploitation. A brighter future and better prospects now await them — another genuinely positive outcome for a young person cared for by our staff.