What is ‘County Lines’?

‘County Lines’ is a form of criminal exploitation in which criminals groom and manipulate children, or vulnerable people, into transporting and dealing illegal drugs, trafficking, child exploitation, gun and knife crime. The 'lines' refer to mobile phones that are used to control a young person who is delivering drugs, often to towns outside their home county.

The work we do…

In conjunction with British Transport Police, Notts Police, Network Rail, NET and Violence Reduction Unit, we are actively out on the streets, the tram network and at train stations supporting both Network Rail and NET staff as well as looking out for young people.

Ashley Gorman - Youth Outreach Worker

Through youth outreach / detached work provided, we speak to many people from all walks of life, and from different areas across Nottingham.

We help many young people by actively listening to them. We also help identify which activity sessions we provided which they may be interested in and encourage them to engage in the sessions we run.

By building trusting relationships, we encourage these young people to share with us any issues they are facing so that we can provide the right type of mentoring and support they require.

Our team, delivering these diversionary activities, can relate to these young people in different ways. This support can help ensure these young people feel empowered to remove themselves from potential danger and know where to get the help they may need.

We take many positive steps to help young people ensure they do not feel they are in danger and that they are no alone, we can support them to thrive.