How County Lines Gangs Are Using CHILDREN To Run Huge Drugs Networks Around Britain

In a recent episode of Crime Suspect, the focus was on the war on drugs and the impact it has on organised crime and vulnerable individuals. City gangs across the UK have been targeted by police in an effort to combat County Lines drug dealers. However, experts argue that more needs to be done to protect those who are most susceptible to the influence of ruthless gangsters.

The discussion also highlighted the need for a health-based approach to tackle the drug problem, as traditional policing efforts seem to only sharpen the sword of organised crime. On this week's Crime Suspect former Met Detective Peter Bleksley is joined by former Prisons Minister Ann Widdecombe and former undercover officer Neil Woods and former gang member turned mentor and youth worker Nequela Whittaker.

The panel on Crime Suspect emphasised the widespread nature of county lines operations and the dangers posed by the criminals running them. It was revealed that the estimated number of children being exploited into drug dealing and County Lines activities was around 50,000, a figure that is expected to increase. The exploitation of children is seen as a tactical response by organised crime to the successes of the police.

Despite the raids, seizures, and arrests, the size of the drug market remains the same, allowing criminals to continue exploiting vulnerable individuals. Former gang member turned mentor and youth worker, Nequela Whittaker, sheds light on the issue of peer-to-peer grooming within drug gangs. She highlighted the alarming trend of girls recruiting their friends into the cycle of exploitation. Young girls are coerced into drug dealing through manipulation and promises of glamour, perpetuating the cycle of victimisation.

Whittaker argued that the current arrests and imprisonment of low-level gang members are not enough to break the cycle, as the top players continue to evade capture. Click here for more from

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