Growing number of children recruited as drug runners

County lines criminals are adapting to the pandemic

A GROWING number of children are being recruited to work as runners for drug dealers, with police likening the youngsters’ role in the trade to working a paper round.

The warning comes from the Children’s Society and East Midlands Special Operations Unit, (Emsou), a police team which was created to fight organised crime in Leicestershire and its neighbouring counties.

Children as young as 12 are being offered inducements such as cash and clothing to move drugs around their own neighbourhoods or, in some cases, in areas far from their homes, the two organisations said.

They reported the exploitation has increased during the coronavirus lockdown, when factors such as limited availability of public transport forced dealers to adapt their methods.

They are urging people to contact police if they believe a child or young person has become involved in the drugs trade, either voluntarily or under coercion.

Known as county lines dealing, victims are kept in line through intimidation and violence, and may be forced to carry out other crimes including robbery or assault or firearms.

In some cases they are sent into the homes of vulnerable adults or drug addicts and use the property as a base to sell drugs – a practice known as cuckooing. Last year, police spoke publicly for the first time about the scale of the problem of county lines dealing in the city and county.

Today, Stuart Jones, Emsou’s regional vulnerabilities coordinator against county lines, explained how the criminals have changed their methods during the lockdown.

He said: “The pandemic has had such a massive impact on the way we live our lives, as well as how we conduct our business, both in how we trade and how we consume.

“Criminals are no different. With limited public transport, county lines gangs saw the usual means by which they moved drugs and cash curtailed.

“As a result their use of taxi serto store money and vices and increased.

“We have also seen more use of push bikes.

“But it’s not just the mode by which they have adapted. County lines gangs are also adapting their methods. “Along with sending young recruits into other areas to transport and sell their illicit wares, they’re also turning their attention to recruiting from within the target area, with local kids now hitting their radar. “That’s where the push bikes come in. We are seeing these local recruits delivering and exchanging drugs and cash, as if they are working a paper round – but with a much more harmful and high-stakes product. “But while these new tactics can pose further challenges for police and our partners, they also offer new opportunities to identify those young people being exploited by these gangs.” James Simmonds-Read, private vehicles has national programme manager at the Children’s Society’s Prevention programme, said: “Criminals groom children through emotional manipulation, with drugs and alcohol or promises of status and wealth.

“They then trap them in situations of exploitation using terrifying threats, violence and sexual abuse.

“Any child in any community can be vulnerable, but they may be too scared to raise concerns.

“Others may not see themselves as victims because they have been manipulated.

“They may not look or act like we expect a victim should and may, for instance, be angry and aggressive.

“These are common responses to trauma.

“We must therefore beyond the obvious to see they need help.

“That’s why it’s vital that not only professionals like police officers and social workers but everyone in society is able to look closer for the warning signs of exploitation and report concerns.

“Only then can young people at risk be identified and offered the help they desperately need.”

Gangs saw the usual means by which they moved drugs and cash curtailed

Stuart Jones, Emsou

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