A critical perspective on county lines drug dealing narratives

Organised crime occurs in many guises. However, in Britain it tends to express itself most notably in, both directly and indirectly, the illegal drugs trade. The growth of this trade is lucrative to say the least, and as such has only served to fuel ever more inventive methods of distribution. One distribution model to have recently attracted significant attention is the phenomenon that is County Lines drug dealing. While there remains regional discrepancies, within the last decade, County Lines drug dealing has been deemed to be the pinnacle drug supply model in Britain. Consequently, the trafficking of young people, brought into the fold via child criminal exploitation and modern slavery, coincides this supply method, as it allows those operating drug lines to remain aloof by utilising a disposable workforce. Resultantly, the offender-victim nexus has become increasingly blurred, and has created multiple levels of complexity for intervening agencies and law enforcement in recognising where an offender-victim is located on this paradoxical continuum. The paper here draws upon several case studies, acquired from research data gathered in the field, to present a critical perspective on County Lines narratives. By listening to, and putting forward the voices of those involved, the presentation is able to demonstrate the complexities that surround the intersectionality of child criminal exploitation, offending, victimisation and opportunity. The researcher emphasises the need to examine the push/pull factors and lived realities of the processes involved in creating, establishing and sustaining the various manifestations which County Lines drug models may take.