The Story INVESTIGATION: On the line - Whack-a-mole
Mar 25, 2026
Sarah Jones, Policing minister outlining government strategy and new law proposals to tackle county lines. Conversations cover how gangs adapt their business models, the rise of social-media lines and shifting drug types. Debate over proposed offences, safeguarding risks and coordination between forces is highlighted.
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County Lines Fragmented Into Chaotic Clusters
- County lines have fragmented from tight-knit organised groups into mixed, chaotic clusters that prioritize profit over traditional codes.
- Dr Mohamed Ruckman found this change increased violence and drew far more young people into exploitation nationwide.
Exploitation Has Grown Exponentially
- The scale of exploitation has ballooned: from hundreds of groups in 2015 to thousands of active lines and over 14,000 children at risk.
- A Youth Endowment Fund survey found one in nine 13–17 year-olds had been approached to sell or transport drugs.
Centralise County Lines Into A National Unit
- Centralising county lines work into a national policing service aims to improve cross-border coordination and resource deployment.
- Sarah Jones says a National County Lines unit will embed leadership and join up evidence across forces.