Special unit set up to protect children from exploitation by criminal groups

 A £2million “county lines” unit will aim to stop children being exploited by gangs, the Government has said.

The hub, set up by the Department for Education, will provide funding and resources to local authorities struggling to tackle drug smuggling and child sexual exploitation.

Figures released last year by the National Crime Agency showed that over a third of police forces reported evidence of child sexual exploitation in relation to county lines, the phenomenon where children are exploited by criminals and used to traffic drugs in rural areas.

The unit will be set up next year, and will run for three years. It will address child sexual exploitation together with other crimes, such as gang and drug activity, which also exploit vulnerable children and can lead to young people going missing.

It will provide experts to areas that need help in particular areas and an online forum for professionals, as well as extra resources where needed.

“County lines” refers to the phone lines used by leaders to organise the gangs, who have been found operating across Britain, with recent arrests in Yorkshire, Kent and Cornwall.

Nadhim Zahawi, children and families minister, said: “The new national unit will help local areas protect them [children] from these threats.”