International Youth Day – tackling the issue of County Lines

International Youth Day is observed annually on 12 August. It was established by the United Nations in 1999 to raise awareness of the issues affecting young people around the world, and to celebrate their role in shaping societies. One of the main aims of International Youth Day is to highlight challenges young people face, with the intention to create change for a better future. A diocese in the province of Canterbury has been doing just this by raising awareness and bringing a local community together around the issue of County Lines.

County Lines describes organised crime gangs who transport and sell drugs from major cities into smaller towns, coastal areas and rural communities. The gangs involved in County Lines recruit or coerce children and young people to act as drug runners (transporting drugs around the country) or to store drugs and illegally-obtained money. By using others, the gang maintains separation from physical dealing, enabling them to operate across regions undetected.

According to Fearless, the youth service from Crimestoppers, it is estimated that there are over 2,000 County Lines operating across the UK. Despite involving criminal activity, many participants are victims, with children and young people being exploited. There is now a huge increase in the number of children and young people carrying knives in response to the dangers of County Lines, feeling that carrying a knife will provide a level of protection. This in turn has led to an increase in the number of teenage fatalities from stabbings.

The devastating impact that County Lines, drugs, and preventable youth deaths has upon families led a diocese in the province of Canterbury to raise awareness and support communities in their fight against gangs and knife crime. A prayer vigil was held in a church in the centre of one of the towns most affected by knife crime. It was organised by a local curate, and supported by the suffragan Bishop of the diocese. Due to worries about security, the vigil was invite-only, but was considered very valuable and meaningful to those who attended.

Moving forward, Mothers’ Union in the diocese hopes to facilitate an event which will bring together local schools, faith groups, the police force and other important organisations to plan how this horrific issue can be resolved. Whilst MU members might not be able to go out onto the streets and fight on the frontline, we can bring people together, facilitate conversations and hold people accountable for what they say they will do.

We hope to update more about this work when we can.

If you have any concerns or questions about County Lines, you can contact Fearless anonymously via their website or by calling 0800 555 111. If you or someone you know is being criminally exploited, please contact the police.