More children than ever are falling prey to county lines drug gangs, worrying new figures reveal 

A record number of children are being exploited by county lines gangs, new figures reveal.

More children than ever are being referred for support after being coerced by criminals to take part in drug dealing networks, Labour analysis shows.

Separate data shows ten to 19-year-olds represent just 12 per cent of the population but 20 per cent of victims of gun crime. And 43 per cent of criminal killers are under 25.

County lines is the name given to the transportation of illegal drugs, often over local authority areas and usually by children or vulnerable people who are coerced into working for gangs.

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Statistics from the National Referral Mechanism show that 1,785 children were referred for support due to county lines exploitation in 2022, up from 1,779 the previous year.

Metropolitan police officers seized a huge cache of terrifying weapons in a city-wide crackdown on County Lines gangs (file image)

Naz Shah, Labour’s crime prevention spokesman, said: ‘Every young life matters, and must be protected from the pernicious effects of violent crime’

Naz Shah, Labour’s crime prevention spokesman, said: ‘Every young life matters, and must be protected from the pernicious effects of violent crime.’

Since November 2019, police have shut down more than 3,500 county lines and made more than 10,000 arrests.