The harrowing reality of child exploitation by county lines drug gangs will be laid bare in the latest episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody this weekend as the documentary follows Bedfordshire Police as their investigation begins with reports of a missing child.
The episode ‘Lost Boys’, which airs on Sunday, 13 July at 9pm on Channel 4, shines a light on how drug gangs are exploiting young boys to help them run county lines.
Lost Boys
County lines is the name given to drug dealing where organised criminal groups (OCGs) use phone lines to move and supply drugs, usually from cities into smaller towns and rural areas.
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There are several signs to look out for that may indicate someone is involved in county lines:
- Repeatedly going missing from school or home and being found in other areas
- having money, new clothes or electronic devices, and they can’t explain how they paid for them
- getting a high number of texts or phone calls, being secretive about who they’re speaking to
- decline in school or work performance
- or significant changes in emotional or physical well-being
The episode comes just a month after the launch of the Bedfordshire Police Lost Boys campaign, which aims to educate parents, carers and young people alike on the signs of criminal exploitation and the consequences of becoming involved in drug criminality.
The campaign includes a bespoke 30-minute virtual reality film which tells the fictional story of a young boy who is groomed by a member of a drugs gang, with terrible consequences.
A sad reality
The latest episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody shows that this type of story, sadly, isn’t just fiction and is happening to real teenagers in Bedfordshire.
The show begins with a missing person report from a concerned mum. The investigation develops when police raid a house believed to be linked to a drug supply.
Camera crews then follow officers as they work to identify the roles of the people involved and find out who is ultimately responsible for running a county drugs line and grooming young boys into carrying out drug deals on their behalf.
Gary Hales, investigation officer, said: “This episode clearly shows how young people, and boys in particular, can be groomed and used by drug gangs.
“The problem is that often they don’t realise they are being exploited and that they are victims until it is too late.
“This is a really powerful episode, which we hope encourages parents and carers to be alert to signs of exploitation and report any concerns to us.
“We’re not here to criminalise young people who are victims themselves, as this episode shows, we’re interested in finding out who those people are at the very top of the drugs line and ensuring they are brought to justice.
“The exploitation of young boys by county drug lines is a real issue not only in Bedfordshire but across the country, and that’s why we launched our Lost Boys campaign earlier this month to help educate parents, carers and children on the signs to look out for and where to go for help.
Exploitation can happen to any child or young person, regardless of background, ethnicity, age, gender or religion. You can find out more about county lines, child exploitation, and the Lost Boys campaign at the link in our bio.
Published as part of our work experience partnership with Sharnbrook Academy
