“County lines” and child criminal exploitation in the UK: a secondary data analysis of focus groups with young people who attended a theatre-in-education programme

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ABSTRACT The exploitation of young people in operations involving the transportation of illegal drugs across regions (known as “county lines”) is a rapidly growing problem facing schools, police forces and Children’s Services in the UK. Few school-based programmes focus on increasing young people’s awareness and understanding of exploitation in county lines. This study completed a secondary data analysis on focus group data collected as part of a Theatre-in-Education (TiE) programme evaluation, which aims to teach young people about types of exploitation through a performance and workshop approach. Young people aged between 13 and 15 years (n = 19) from two UK secondary schools took part in semi-structured focus groups. Data relating to criminal exploitation within county lines were thematically analysed. The analysis indicated that, whereas prior to the programme, participants had some awareness of child sexual exploitation in general, they had poor awareness of grooming and the occurrence of both sexual and criminal exploitation within county lines. The findings also revealed a lack of awareness and clarity surrounding blame and agency in child criminal and sexual exploitation. Future research should work towards providing effective activities within school-based programmes that aim to develop young people’s understanding and awareness of grooming in county lines. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT Findings from this study highlight an urgent, unmet need for educational interventions for young people to raise awareness of both criminal and sexual exploitation in county lines. This includes education on grooming tactics used by perpetrators to help to prevent vulnerable young people becoming involved. Further research is needed on gender differences in criminal exploitation, including gang roles and outcomes, as well as perceptions of agency and blame in criminal exploitation.