Overview

County lines is a form of criminal exploitation that affects young people across both urban and rural communities – and increasingly begins online. This course explores how the county lines model operates and how children are groomed, manipulated, and controlled through a mix of in-person and online tactics. You’ll explore how social media, messaging apps, and gaming platforms are used to target vulnerable young people, and learn how to recognise the signs, respond effectively, and safeguard those at risk in today’s connected world.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Understand how the county lines model operates and adapts to online environments.
• Recognise how perpetrators use online platforms alongside in-person tactics to exploit young people.
• Identify key signs of risk and how these may present in both online and offline contexts.
• Learn how to respond appropriately and escalate concerns through safeguarding procedures.