Welcome to the NPCC website
National County Lines Coordination Centre
County Lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas within the UK, using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of “deal line”.
The impact and harm caused by County Lines including associated violence and exploitation, is far-reaching. In response to this threat, the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) was launched in 2018, as part of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Gangs and County Lines portfolio, led by Commander Paul Brogden. Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell leads the NCLCC, working closely with the Home Office to deliver the County Lines Programme
The NCLCC is funded by the Home Office with the aim of coordinating national law enforcement activity across England, Scotland, and Wales, increasing intelligence on the county lines threat, and informing national policy development and best practice.
Commander Paul Brogden:
"County Lines drug dealing has a devastating effect on communities, and our commitment is to put an end to the county lines business model and the criminal offending of those involved in exploitation and violence often associated with it.
"Our message is clear: we will continue to rescue and protect children and vulnerable adults who are drawn into county lines activities, and we will prosecute those responsible for their exploitation using the full force of the law.
"We will relentlessly pursue individuals involved in running county lines operations nationwide. We will dismantle their criminal networks and remove drugs from our streets.
"We will confront the violent criminals and the harm and misery they inflict on our communities.
"While there are still challenges ahead, the past five years has demonstrated that by working together with law enforcement and external partners, we can achieve significant success in eradicating this heinous crime. It is crucial that we maintain the momentum we have built to safeguard the most vulnerable in our communities.”
The mission of the NCLCC is to prevent county lines and the associated violence and exploitation of vulnerable adults and children. With a focus on enforcement against drugs lines and safeguarding, the policing strategy sets out the plan on how the NCLCC will deliver on its mission:
- Prevent people engaging in County Lines, and the associated violence and exploitation
- Proactively safeguard children and vulnerable adults from harm
- Better prepare communities by building resilience against the harms of county lines
- Relentlessly pursue offenders, including Organised Criminal Groups (OCGs), Urban Street Gangs and individuals running county lines
The NCLCC plays a pivotal role in the policing’s approach to County Lines. In order to tackle the most damaging aspects of the drug supply network that exploits vulnerable adults and children, the programme has been central to overcoming the challenges of force boundaries, as well as siloed intelligence systems. The NCLCC has created a framework which allows for a more joined up approach and greater information sharing.
The NCLCC is made up of police officers and staff that are located across the country. A network of co-ordinators and analysts across each of the Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCU) act as a conduit for every police force and galvanise activity within all the forces in their region.
The NCLCC obtains and disseminates national county lines intelligence, identifying cross border threats. The NCLCC also identifies and promotes national best practice through a continuous improvement team. This small team of subject matter experts engage with partners (NPCC portfolios, government departments, NGOs and colleagues within policing), in order to develop best practice, policy, operational activity and training.
Through the work of the NCLCC and working collaboratively with police forces and partners, we have made significant progress in eradiating county lines across England and Wales.
Our achievements to date include:
- 7,558 lines closed
- 22,286 arrests
- 11,540 safeguarding referrals
- 2,517 line holders charged (since April 2022)
- There are now fewer County Lines coming from exporter forces and fewer children involved in county lines from those areas
- We have launched the NCLCC Power App for law enforcement, a central resource for county lines knowledge and practitioner guidance.
The County Lines model
A common feature in the County Lines business model is the exploitation of young and vulnerable people. It is vital that victims are supported and safeguarded, and criminals pursued and prosecuted.
Criminal gangs use their power and position to groom, recruit and exploit children, young people, and vulnerable adults for the purpose of criminal gain. This often involves high levels of violence, threat and force which results in the person feeling trapped and unable to leave the criminal life they have become involved in.
Grooming is when someone builds an emotional connection with a person to gain their trust for the purposes of exploitation or trafficking. Grooming can be done in many ways, online or face to face, by a stranger or by someone they know.
As part of the grooming process, young people often receive money and/or gifts as an incentive to build trust and carry out criminal activities. Groomers often target those that have been excluded from school, are attending alternative education provision, and those that are vulnerable through substance addiction, mental health and learning disabilities. However, anyone can be groomed.
Many people don’t understand that they are being groomed and don’t identify themselves as a victim, believing the relationship between themselves and the groomer as genuine.
There are several warning signs that may indicate that a person is being criminally exploited:
- frequently going missing from school or home and being found in other areas
- having unexplained items such as a new mobile phone and money
- unexplained injuries and a change in behaviour
To learn more about county lines grooming and exploitation, read: Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines (accessible version).
Cuckooing or home invasion is a form of criminal exploitation where criminals use or take over a vulnerable person’s home for criminal purposes.
As part of the county lines business model, criminal gangs will often use these homes to prepare and store drugs, weapons, and cash and to accommodate individuals working for a deal line.
People's homes are frequently used to support this activity because they are free, less conspicuous than hotel rooms and widely available.
Sometimes the use of a property may start out as consensual, for example in exchange for drugs, but the arrangement may quickly sour. County Lines networks may use violence and coercion to occupy the property of individuals who are vulnerable, for example through mental health issues, domestic circumstances, substance misuse, loneliness or simply because they or a relative are in debt.
Drug runners accommodated at cuckooed properties are often children who may have been reported missing.
Where there are concerns that a person is at risk of, or is experiencing exploitation in the form of cuckooing, an investigation will be undertaken by police and partner agencies to understand the circumstances in each case. This will assist with decision making in respect of prosecution and safeguarding arrangements
Debt bondage is commonly seen in county lines to control, coerce and intimidate children and adults at risk. It is a form of entrapment that can lead to people feeling as though they are caught in a situation from which they cannot escape.
Debt bondage occurs where an individual owes money to their exploiters and is made to repay their debt, either financially or through another means. A real or perceived debt is often used as a method by criminal gangs to exert control over individuals they are exploiting. Many criminal gangs use debt bondage, but the way the debts are incurred, used, and enforced will vary.
‘Debts’ can be incurred in a number of ways including:
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provision of food, drugs, accommodation or other items the individual believes are gifts but which they are then expected to repay the cost of;
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staged robberies against those holding or running drugs who are then held responsible for the loss;
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the seizure of drugs and/or money by police upon arrest can result in the arrested individual being held responsible for the debt caused by the loss;
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assumption of debt incurred by a friend or family member
To learn more about debt bondage including the signs to look out for and which support services are available, visit:
Coercive internal concealment involves drugs being moved from one place to another (or stored for a longer duration) hidden in body cavities to avoid detection.
Drugs are usually concealed within a condom, or similarly effective packaging (e.g. kinder egg) and commonly placed inside the rectum or vagina using lubricant.
Several slang terms are commonly used in relation to coercive internal concealment. Plugging, stuffing, body packing and banking refer to the hiding of drugs (often heroin or crack cocaine) being hidden in body cavities. Spooning is the process of retrieving items that have been plugged rectally, with a spoon type object.
Criminal gangs will use threats, physical violence, and humiliation to coerce children or vulnerable adults into inserting drugs in their bodies. These processes are sometimes filmed, as a means of coercive control. This act of exploitation can be of significant harm and it does not indicate that the victim is complicit in drug supply.
To learn more about coercive internal concealment, visit:
The NCLCC works closely with partners to tackle exploitation and promote their work in support of referrals and campaigns.
Our key partners include:
The Children Society – Provides specialist support that empowers young people to make positive changes and rediscover their hope. What We Do | The Children's Society (childrenssociety.org.uk)
#LookCloser- Is a national campaign in collaboration with British Transport Police and the NCLCC. The campaign seeks to raise awareness and get to know the signs of child exploitation and how to report it .#LookCloser To Spot Exploitation | The Children's Society (childrenssociety.org.uk)
Catch 22 – Provide support for young people, parents and carers with the aim of preventing or stopping child exploitation and missing incidents.
Child exploitation | Catch22 (catch-22.org.uk)
Missing People / SafeCall - SafeCall provides confidential, anonymous support to victims of county lines exploitation and their families. The service helps people affected by exploitation get safe, stay safe and deal with the challenges they face.
Crimestoppers
County Lines: Protecting Our Communities and Families | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)
Ivison Trust – A national charity working to keep children safe from exploitation by supporting their parents, disrupting their exploiters and working in partnership with police and family services.
About Ivison Trust - Ivison Trust
Youth Endowment Fund – A national charity working to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence.
Cuckooing Webinar: Monday 18 November 2024 (police and partners)
A webinar is designed to gain a greater understanding of cuckooing and how it drives criminal exploitation of vulnerable adults. You will be provided with information to support your understanding of the issue and enhance your ability to identify, report and investigate cuckooing. Learn more and register.
NRM Myth Busting: Monday 25 November 2024 (police and partners)
During this interactive session you will work through historic County Lines case studies to better understand the NRM process. We will explore the effects of the NRM submission, culminating in advice regarding considerations when navigating the process. Learn more and register.
Criminal Exploitation - Lived Experience Webinars (Police and Partners)
This event seeks to engage delegates to develop a greater understanding of criminal exploitation. The investigation of child criminal exploitation, particularly county lines, presents unique challenges and complexities for investigators. You will hear accounts from victims of criminal exploitation in order to better inform our practices.
Wednesday 20 November 2024 - register here
Thursday 21 November 2024 - register here
Tuesday 26 November 2024 - register here
Wednesday 27 November 2024 - register here