Full Breakdown
Surge in Child Exploitation by County-Lines Gangs Across Scotland
6/29/2026, 10:12:57 PM
Scale of the Problem
Police Scotland’s latest figures reveal a dramatic rise in children and young people being drawn into county-lines drug networks. In the most recent reporting year, 104 individuals under 18 were recorded as victims, up from 22 in 2020-21 – an increase of almost 500 %. The subset of 16- and 17-year-olds grew from 16 to 65 during the same period. Since 2021, a total of 312 minors have been identified as either victims or perpetrators of county-lines activity.
Historical Context and Expansion of County Lines
County lines refer to the telephone numbers used by organised drug traffickers to coordinate shipments from urban hubs to peripheral towns, often rural. Originally a metropolitan phenomenon, these networks have extended into smaller Scottish communities, exploiting the limited local policing resources and the vulnerability of youth outside school settings.
Key Statistics
- Under-18 victims (latest year): 104 (vs. 22 in 2020-21)
- 16-17-year-old victims: 65 (up from 16)
- Total minors involved since 2021: 312
- Police operation (February): 43 suspects arrested, nearly £1 million of narcotics seized, large cash sums and weapons recovered.
- Operation outcome: 38 vulnerable individuals, including nine children, identified as caught in the criminal enterprise.
Official Responses
Barnardo’s Scotland highlighted the surge as “very concerning,” urging heightened protective measures for at-risk youth. Police Scotland emphasized that the figures reflect long-standing trends and warned that the data likely represent only the visible portion of a broader problem. The force noted that improved awareness and identification may partly explain the statistical rise, but gaps persist without a clear statutory definition of child criminal exploitation. Child-exploitation expert Professor Alexis Jay warned that gangs are deliberately targeting vulnerable children outside schools and increasingly employing sexual violence to maintain control.
Criticisms and Identified Gaps
Stakeholders point to the absence of a specific legal definition for child criminal exploitation, which hampers consistent reporting and prosecution. While police acknowledge that better identification contributes to higher recorded numbers, they caution that many cases remain undetected. The reliance on referrals to the National Referral Mechanism—a Home Office body—means that only victims recognized by authorities are counted, suggesting the true scale may be larger.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Michele Janes, the Director of Barnardo’s Scotland said: “The reported increase from Police Scotland in the number of children being identified and recorded at risk of criminal exploitation by so-called ‘county lines’ gangs is very concerning.” — Michele Janes, Director, Barnardo’s Scotland
- “These figures reflect what we have been seeing on the ground for many years.” — Dean Alford, Police Scotland
- “The criminal exploitation of children, including through county lines, is a growing and complex form of abuse.” — Dean Alford, Police Scotland
- “Some of this rise may be due to improved awareness and better identification by police and partners who we have been working with.” — Dean Alford, Police Scotland
- “In February MSP's were told by child exploitation expert Professor Alexis Jay that criminal gangs are targeting vulnerable children outside schools, to transport drugs and weapons as part of county lines activity.” — Professor Alexis Jay, Child-exploitation expert
- “She also said sexual violence is increasingly used to control the youngsters.” — Professor Alexis Jay, Child-exploitation expert
Future Outlook
Policymakers are being urged to introduce a statutory definition of child criminal exploitation to improve data consistency and legal clarity. Ongoing investigations aim to dismantle county-lines networks and expand support services for identified victims. Continued monitoring of police referrals and inter-agency cooperation will be essential to assess whether the upward trend reflects genuine growth in exploitation or enhanced detection.
