Section 45 Defence and Children's Protection

Children aren't just running drugs for county lines gangs - sometimes they're running the lines themselves.

Today The Sunday Times's northern editor David Collins talks to the police officers who worry laws designed to protect victims of exploitation might actually encourage gang leaders to promote teenagers into higher positions in their criminal organisation.

This is episode three of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing, running in audio, video, print and digital from The Times and The Sunday Times.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Read more: Drug gangs swamped York. This is how police stopped them | I was a county lines drug runner. I tried to quit, then I was stabbed

Watch: School-age kingpins: why children now hold the key to county lines

Host: David Collins

Producers: Kate Lamble and Taryn Siegel

Executive producers: Tim Walklate and Dan Box

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Photo: Getty Images.

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