Controlling the Line: Exploitation and Sanctions

Abstract

This chapter investigates how county line managers employ strategic and tactical actions to control their lines to keep them active and thriving: first, through exploitation and; second, via the County Line Control Repertoire, which provides multiple tactical sanctions for county line operatives to control the line. Exploitation by street gangs and organised crime networks is UK-wide. Within county lines, exploitation of both adults and young people is fundamental to all county line business models and is essential to achieving the profit margins making county line models a profitable enterprise. Child criminal exploitation within county lines can include grooming and selection, recruitment, running drug lines, interlay carrying drugs, hiding or carrying weapons, and money laundering. The chapter then considers the role of gender, with detailed insight into the exploitation, intimidation, and violence now ever-present in county lines via issues such as debt bondage.