'There is no "war on drugs"': An investigation into county line drug networks from the perspective of a London borough. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bonning, John; Cleaver, Karen
• Is Part Of: Police journal. Volume 94:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 443
• Page End: 461
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: County lines -- gangs -- drugs -- young people -- exploitation; Police -- Periodicals; Police -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 363.205
• DOI: 10.1177/0032258X20956682
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-258X

Abstract

County Line Drug Networks involve the transportation of drugs from urban hubs to out of city locations across the UK. County lines are a societal concern as they involve the recruitment of vulnerable individuals (adults and children), who are used as runners, exposing them to hazardous and often violent situations. This paper reports on a small scale study which provides a snapshot of the characteristics of nominals involved in county line drug network within a London Borough as well as the perspective of three expert practitioners who have substantial and detailed operational knowledge of how county line operatives work.