County Lines & Child Arrests: The Legal Reality Behind the Headlines
- Written By The Kulturalism Team
- Nov 7, 2025
- 22 min read
Updated: Nov 27, 2025
When a child is arrested for involvement in county lines activity, families face an overwhelming and frightening experience. The legal process — designed to protect children while addressing their behaviour — is complex, highly regulated, and often misunderstood.
Content Note – Please Read First This is a detailed and comprehensive guide. It explores the full journey of a child through the youth justice system — from arrest to sentencing — explaining the law, the safeguards in place, and the reality behind county lines involvement.
Understanding what happens at each stage can help families prepare, protect their children’s rights, and recognise when a child is being exploited rather than offending by choice.
The Arrest Process
Learn what happens when a child is arrested, the legal grounds officers must follow, and how PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act) protects young people. This section also explains when voluntary interviews should be used instead of arrest.
Custody & Appropriate Adults
Find out what happens once a child arrives at the police station. This section explains the role of the custody officer, the rights of children in detention, and why an Appropriate Adult must always be present to safeguard their welfare.
Charge or Release
After interview, police must decide whether to charge, bail, or release the child. This section explains what happens next — including special rules for 10-year-olds, bail conditions such as curfews, and the Youth Offending Team’s involvement.
County Lines as Modern Slavery
Many children involved in county lines are victims of exploitation, not criminals. This section covers the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the Modern Slavery Act, and the Section 45 Defence available to exploited children.
Court Proceedings & Sentencing
Discover how youth cases are heard, what happens in the Youth Court versus the Crown Court, and how sentencing decisions are made. This section outlines key principles like the “Child First” approach and the impact of exploitation on sentencing outcomes.
The Long-Term Consequences
Understand how criminal records, education, and social stigma can affect a child’s future — and why early rehabilitation, schooling, and mental health support are so vital for recovery.
What Families Need to Know
Guidance for parents, carers, and guardians. Learn how to support a child through arrest, work with Youth Offending Teams, and access help from professional organisations.
Understanding the Age of Criminal Responsibility
→ Who Can Be Arrested?
In England and Wales, the age of criminal responsibility is 10 years old. This means children under 10 cannot be arrested or charged with a crime, regardless of their actions. While this is one of the lowest ages in the world, it is the current law.
Children aged 10 to 17 inclusive can be arrested, charged, and prosecuted for criminal offences. However, they receive significantly different treatment from adults throughout the criminal justice process, with extensive legal protections designed to safeguard their welfare whilst addressing their behaviour.
Anyone who appears to be under 18 must be treated as a juvenile under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Code C, even if their actual age is uncertain. If police cannot determine age definitively, they must err on the side of treating the person as a child. The Youth Offending Team or medical professionals may assist with age determination, but when doubt remains, juvenile protections apply.
What About Children Under 10?
Children below the age of criminal responsibility who engage in harmful behaviour will not go to criminal court but may be subject to other interventions including Local Child Curfews (prohibiting presence in public places between 9pm and 6am without an adult) or Child Safety Orders (placing the child under supervision with specific behavioural requirements). In serious cases, the child may be taken into local authority care if their welfare is at risk or if parents are deemed unable to manage their behaviour.
The Arrest Process
→ What Happens and What Protections Exist Grounds for Arrest
Arresting a Child: What the Law Says
Police can only arrest a child if they have reasonable grounds to believe the child has committed an offence and that arrest is necessary under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Code G.
Under section 24 of PACE, an officer must be able to show both:
Reasonable grounds to suspect the child’s involvement in an offence, and
That arrest was necessary for one of the specific legal reasons listed in Code G — such as protecting a child or vulnerable person, allowing prompt investigation, or preventing the child’s disappearance.
Officers must also consider the child’s age and welfare when deciding whether those grounds exist. Arrest should never be automatic.
Before making an arrest, police should always consider alternative approaches, such as arranging a voluntary interview, which may achieve the same objective without the trauma or formal criminalisation that arrest can cause.
These requirements are set out in the PACE Code G (2012) and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) (Revision of Codes C, G and H) Order 2012.
Rights After Arrest (Under 18s)
If a child is arrested, they still have important legal rights — and the police must follow strict rules under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and PACE Code C: Detention, Treatment and Questioning of Persons by Police Officers. These rules are designed to protect the child’s welfare and ensure fairness throughout the process.
→ Key rights include:
Right to an Appropriate Adult: A parent, guardian, or trained Appropriate Adult must be called before any questioning begins. They must be present during interviews, charging decisions, or when rights are explained. (See PACE Code C, paragraphs 1.7, 3.13–3.17, and 11.15)
Right to Free Legal Advice: Every child has the right to speak with a solicitor — for free, in private, at any time. Police cannot discourage or delay this. (See PACE Code C, paragraph 6.5)
Right to Have Someone Informed of Arrest: The police must contact the child’s parent or guardian as soon as practicable to tell them where the child is being held and why. (See PACE Code C, paragraph 3.5)
Right to Be Treated with Care and Respect: Children must be held separately from adults in custody where possible, and officers must consider their age, vulnerability, and emotional wellbeing at every stage. (See PACE Code C, section 8)
Right to Silence: The child does not have to answer questions other than giving their name, address, and date of birth. Anything said can be used as evidence later. (See Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 34)
These safeguards exist to ensure that children are protected, not punished unfairly. If the police fail to follow these procedures, it may affect the lawfulness of the arrest or any evidence obtained.
Informing Parents or Guardians
If a child under 18 is arrested, police must inform the parents or guardians as soon as possible. This is a legal requirement, not discretionary. Parents have a right to know their child has been arrested and where they are being held. There are limited circumstances where police might delay notification, such as when they believe parental contact would interfere with evidence, alert other suspects, or put the child at risk. Even in these cases, delay must be minimal and an appropriate adult from another source must be secured urgently.
Transportation and Detention
Children must not be transported in vehicles with adult detainees unless the vehicle has been specifically designed and built to carry them separately and simultaneously. This separation requirement protects children from potential intimidation or harm.
Upon arrival at the police station, children must not associate with adult detainees while detained, being conveyed to or from court, or waiting to be conveyed. The only exception is where the child is jointly charged with an adult or relative, and even then, only when appropriate safeguards are in place.
The Custody Suite
Legal Protections and Requirements The Custody Officer's Duties
The custody officer is responsible for the welfare of everyone detained at the police station. When a child arrives, specific additional duties apply. The custody officer must determine the child's age, notify an appropriate adult immediately, arrange for the child to be held in conditions suitable for their age and vulnerability, and ensure all PACE Code C requirements for juveniles are followed meticulously.
The Appropriate Adult Safeguard
The appropriate adult (AA) is one of the most important legal protections for children in custody. This is not a right that can be waived but a procedural safeguard that police must implement. The child cannot decline an appropriate adult, nor can parents or the child's solicitor waive this requirement.
→ The Role of an Appropriate Adult
Appropriate adults have three core functions defined by law. They must support, advise, and assist the detained child, particularly during questioning. They must observe whether police act properly, fairly, and with respect for the child's rights, and challenge them if they do not. They must assist with communication between the child and police, ensuring the child understands what is happening and can participate effectively.
Appropriate adults are not simply passive observers. They have the power and duty to intervene if they believe procedures are unfair, the child does not understand what is happening, or the child's rights are being violated.
→ Who Can Be an Appropriate Adult
PACE Code C establishes a clear hierarchy for appropriate adults. First preference is the child's parent or guardian. If the child is in local authority care, the local authority or voluntary organisation representative should attend. Where parents are unavailable, unsuitable, or unwilling, the Youth Offending Team must provide an appropriate adult.
Certain individuals cannot act as appropriate adults including anyone under 18 themselves, solicitors or legal representatives at the police station in that capacity, anyone who has received an admission of guilt prior to attending, estranged parents if the child objects, the head teacher of the child's school (unless waiting would cause unreasonable delay and the offence did not involve the school), and any person suspected of involvement in the offence.
→ Legal Duty to Provide
Local authorities have an absolute statutory duty under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to provide an appropriate adult when police request one. Youth Offending Teams should ensure attendance within two hours of the initial request. This is not a target but a standard required by Youth Justice Board case management guidance.
The law does not recognise situations where a child remains in police cells because no appropriate adult is available. If local authorities fail to provide an appropriate adult, senior officers must escalate the matter. The local authority can be charged reasonable expenses for accommodating the child if they fail in their duty.
Strip Searches and Intimate Searches
Children can be searched at police stations, but strict legal protections apply. If a strip search (removal of more than outer clothing) is necessary, an adult of the same sex must conduct it unless the child specifically requests someone of the opposite sex who is readily available. The child has the right to have an appropriate adult present during any search.
Intimate searches (examination of body orifices) can only occur in the most serious circumstances and require authorisation from a superintendent or above. They must be conducted in private by a registered medical practitioner or registered nurse unless the officer reasonably believes delay would cause serious harm.
An appropriate adult of the same sex must be present unless the child specifically requests their absence and the appropriate adult agrees, with this agreement recorded.
Recent case law has emphasised that strip searches of children must only occur when absolutely necessary, with the Court of Appeal expressing serious concern about cases where vulnerable children are strip-searched without exploring less invasive alternatives.
Fingerprints, Photographs, and Samples
→ The law sets different requirements based on the child's age:
Children aged 10-13: Police require permission from a parent or guardian to take fingerprints, unless specific circumstances apply such as arrest for a recordable offence.
Children aged 14-15: Both the child and parent or guardian must agree to fingerprinting unless statutory exceptions apply.
Children aged 16-17: Can be required to submit to fingerprints and photographs even without agreement.
For DNA samples (hair, saliva, etc.), if no charges have been made, police must have agreement from both child and parent.
Access to Legal Advice
Every child in custody has the right to free legal advice from a solicitor. This right is absolute and applies from the moment of arrival at the police station. Children can consult privately with their solicitor at any time.
Concerningly, many children decline legal advice, often because they do not understand the risks, make short-term decisions to "get it over with," have misconceptions about solicitors' independence or fees, or lack trust in the system. Take-up of legal advice among children in custody is worryingly low.
However, even if a child declines legal advice, the appropriate adult has the right under PACE Code C 6.5A to ensure a solicitor attends the police station. While the child cannot be forced to then meet the solicitor, they almost always do. This power exists because appropriate adults often better understand the critical importance of legal representation than frightened children in custody.
Police Interviews: Protections and Procedures
→ When Can Police Interview a Child?
Police cannot interview a child, ask them to provide a written statement, or charge them without an appropriate adult present except in very limited urgent circumstances. These exceptions apply only when delay would lead to interference with evidence, harm to persons, serious loss of property, or alerting other suspects. Even in urgent situations, interviews must cease as soon as the risk diminishes, and an appropriate adult must be secured before the interview can continue.
The Interview Process
During interviews, both the appropriate adult and solicitor must be present. The child must be reminded of their right to legal advice. The interview must be recorded (usually audio and video). The interviewer must ensure the child understands what is happening and can participate effectively. If at any point the child appears not to understand or is distressed, the appropriate adult or solicitor can request breaks, clarification, or cessation of the interview. The welfare of the child remains paramount even during evidence gathering.
Out-of-Court Disposals
Police have several options short of charging that can be used for first-time or minor offences. These include restorative police warnings (where a police officer helps the child understand the impact of their actions and take responsibility) and recorded police warnings (for children aged 16-17 not subject to supervision orders).
These warnings do not form part of a criminal record but may be included in enhanced DBS checks as "other relevant information" at police discretion.
Charge or Release
Following interview, police must decide whether to charge, release on bail pending further investigation, or release without charge. If charging, this must occur in the presence of an appropriate adult. If police decide to keep the child in custody after charging, they must justify this decision carefully. Children can only be kept in custody if they are aged 12 or over, and the offence is very serious, or there are substantial grounds to believe the child would fail to appear at court, commit further offences, or interfere with witnesses.
If the child is 10 years old, they cannot normally be kept in custody after being charged. In most cases, they will be released to their parent or guardian, either on bail (which may include conditions such as a curfew or restrictions on who they can see) or without bail if appropriate. The case is then referred to the Youth Offending Team (YOT) and the Youth Court, where decisions are made about next steps. While children as young as 10 can legally be charged in England and Wales, prosecution is rare and generally reserved for serious or repeated offending.
Transfer to Local Authority Accommodation
→ A critical legal protection exists for children: they should not be held in police cells overnight except in very limited circumstances. Section 38(6) of PACE requires custody officers to transfer children to local authority accommodation unless they certify it is impracticable to do so, the child is aged 12-17 and no secure accommodation is available and keeping them in custody is necessary to protect the public from serious harm.
The local authority has an absolute duty to provide accommodation when requested. If they fail, senior police officers must escalate immediately. Any reasonable expenses of accommodating the child can be recovered from the local authority where the child ordinarily resides.
Important exceptions exist: children arrested for breach of bail or on a warrant not backed for bail must be kept in police cells. Eighteen-year-olds cannot be transferred under this provision.
County Lines as Modern Slavery
A Critical Legal Consideration
Recognising Child Victims
One of the most significant developments in recent years is recognition that children involved in county lines are often victims of modern slavery and trafficking, not simply criminals. This recognition has profound legal implications.
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 criminalises human trafficking (Section 2) and slavery, servitude, and forced or compulsory labour (Section 1). County lines operations frequently involve these offences, with children recruited, transported, and exploited for drug dealing through coercion, manipulation, deception, and control.
The National Referral Mechanism
When police encounter a child suspected of involvement in county lines, they should consider whether the child is a victim of trafficking or modern slavery. If so, designated first responders (including police and local authorities) must refer the child to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). The NRM is the framework for identifying victims of modern slavery and ensuring they receive appropriate support. Following referral, a Competent Authority decision maker considers whether there are reasonable grounds to believe the person is a victim. If this threshold is met, the child receives support and protection measures. For children, consent is not required for NRM referrals. The decision should be made in the child's best interests, considering their welfare and safety.
The Section 45 Defence
Section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 provides a statutory defence for victims of modern slavery charged with certain criminal offences. If a person can show they were compelled to commit the offence because of slavery or trafficking, they may have a complete defence. For children, establishing compulsion has a lower threshold than for adults. Courts recognise that children can be exploited without obvious physical coercion. Psychological manipulation, grooming, fear, and dependency can constitute compulsion.
This defence has significant implications for county lines prosecutions. Children found with drugs may argue they were compelled to carry them through exploitation. Even if the defence does not completely exonerate them, it can significantly reduce culpability and influence decisions about whether prosecution is in the public interest.
Prosecution Decisions and Public Interest
The Crown Prosecution Service must consider whether prosecution of a child victim of modern slavery is in the public interest. Prosecutors assess whether there is a connection between the trafficking or slavery and the alleged offending, and if so, whether circumstances remove or reduce the child's culpability to a point where prosecution is not appropriate. For children, compulsion is not a necessary element for reducing culpability. The fact of exploitation alone can be sufficient. The more serious the offence, the stronger mitigating factors must be, but prosecutors increasingly recognise that criminalising trafficked children is rarely in the public interest when appropriate safeguarding responses exist.
Court Proceedings: Where and How Children Are Tried
→ Youth Court vs Crown Court
The proper venue for trying children is normally the Youth Court, a specialist branch of the Magistrates' Court. Youth Courts differ substantially from adult courts. They are closed to the public (only specific individuals including parties, parents, appropriate adults, and accredited journalists can attend). Reporting restrictions prohibit revealing the child's name, address, school, or photographs outside court. Three magistrates or a single district judge hears cases. Proceedings are less formal and designed to be age-appropriate.
Children should only be sent to Crown Court for trial when charged with very serious offences where a custodial sentence substantially exceeding two years is a realistic possibility. For children aged 10-11 and children aged 12-14 who are not persistent offenders, there is a legal prohibition against custodial sentences except in the most exceptional circumstances, which further limits Crown Court use.
When a child is jointly charged with an adult sent to Crown Court, the court should normally separate the cases and try the child in Youth Court unless it is in the interests of justice for them to be tried together. The child's welfare must be a central consideration in this decision.
Special Measures for Child Defendants
Children appearing in court, whether as defendants or witnesses, are automatically eligible for special measures to help them participate effectively. These may include screens so the child does not have to see certain people in the courtroom, live video link so the child gives evidence from a separate room, removal of wigs and gowns by judges and barristers, examination through an intermediary who can help the child understand questions and express answers, pre-recorded video evidence rather than live testimony, and other aids to communication. The court must satisfy itself that special measures are likely to maximise the quality of the child's evidence or enable effective participation before granting applications, but the presumption is that children require and should receive such support.
Parents and Guardians in Court
Parents or guardians must attend court with the child throughout proceedings unless the court is satisfied it would be unreasonable to require attendance. Courts take this requirement seriously because parental support is crucial to the child's welfare and to ensuring parents understand the seriousness of the situation.
Parents may be required to pay fines imposed on children under 16, reflecting shared responsibility for the child's behaviour.
Sentencing Children
Principles and Options
The Child First Approach
The youth justice system in England and Wales operates on a "Child First" principle. This approach recognises that children in the justice system are children first and offenders second. The primary aim is preventing offending and reoffending while promoting the child's welfare and development.
Section 58 of the Sentencing Code imposes statutory duties on courts when sentencing children. Courts must have regard to the principal aim of the youth justice system (preventing offending by children), have regard to the welfare of the child, and consider whether education, training, removing the child from undesirable surroundings, or other measures would better serve the child's interests.
This does not mean children avoid consequences, but it does mean sentences must be constructive and proportionate, considering the child's age, maturity, background, and capacity for change.
Factors Courts Consider
→ When sentencing children for county lines offences, courts assess multiple factors:
The child's culpability: Was the child in a leading, significant, or lesser role? Leading roles involve directing operations, substantial planning, or expectation of significant financial gain. Lesser roles often indicate exploitation, with the child acting under direction, receiving minimal benefit, and having limited understanding of the operation's scale.
Exploitation as mitigation: Evidence of trafficking, grooming, coercion, or exploitation significantly reduces culpability. Courts increasingly recognise that children in county lines rarely operate freely but are manipulated by adults who bear primary responsibility.
The child's age and maturity: Younger children with less developed understanding receive more lenient sentences. The gap between biological age and emotional or intellectual maturity is considered.
Previous convictions: While repeat offending is aggravating, courts consider whether previous offending indicates an underlying problem (such as exploitation, trauma, or addiction) that could be addressed more effectively through community intervention rather than escalating sentences.
Guilty pleas: Children who plead guilty receive sentence reductions. The earlier the plea, the greater the reduction. Maximum reduction (one-third) applies if the child pleads guilty at the first hearing. This incentivises early pleas, sparing victims and witnesses from prolonged proceedings.
The offence's seriousness: Courts consider quantity and value of drugs, the child's proximity to the top of the supply chain, whether violence or weapons were involved, and impact on the community.
Sentencing Options
→ Courts have a range of sentencing options for children, used in ascending order of seriousness:
Discharges (Absolute or Conditional): For the least serious offences. An absolute discharge means no further action beyond conviction. A conditional discharge means if the child commits another offence within a set period, they can be sentenced for both the original and new offence.
Fines: Courts can fine children aged 15-17 up to £1,000. For children under 16, parents or guardians must pay, so the fine reflects parental ability to pay rather than the child's.
Referral Orders: Required for most first-time offences where the child pleads guilty. The child attends a Youth Offender Panel (two community members and a Youth Offending Team advisor) to agree a contract addressing offending behaviour and making reparation. Orders last 3-12 months and aim for restorative justice.
Youth Rehabilitation Orders (YROs): Community sentences lasting up to three years with various requirements including supervision, unpaid work (ages 16-17 only), curfews, electronic monitoring, education requirements, drug or alcohol treatment, mental health treatment, residence requirements, and prohibited activity requirements.
YROs aim to address underlying issues contributing to offending while keeping the child in the community where family support and positive activities can aid rehabilitation.
Detention and Training Orders (DTOs): Custodial sentences for children aged 12-17, lasting 4-24 months. Half is spent in custody (secure children's homes, secure training centres, or young offender institutions), and half under supervision in the community. DTOs are only imposed when offending is so serious that no other sentence is appropriate, or the child is a persistent offender.
Section 250 Detention: For very serious offences carrying maximum adult sentences of 14 years or more, courts can impose longer periods of detention. This is reserved for the gravest cases.
Detention for Life or Extended Sentences: Imposed when the court determines there is significant risk of serious harm to the public from the child committing further specified offences.
Detention During His Majesty's Pleasure: The mandatory sentence for children convicted of murder. The starting point for the minimum term is 12 years (compared to 15 years for adults).
County Lines Specific Sentencing Considerations
For county lines offences specifically, courts apply drug offence sentencing guidelines with careful attention to exploitation indicators. Aggravating factors that increase sentences include using or permitting someone under 18 to deliver drugs (though less relevant when the defendant is themselves a child), supplying drugs near schools, exploiting others, and controlling another person's home for drug activity (cuckooing).
However, powerful mitigating factors apply for exploited children including evidence of grooming or trafficking, coercion or threats, age and immaturity, lack of financial benefit (suggesting the child was being exploited rather than profiting), and evidence of attempts to exit the operation but being prevented by threats or control.
Courts increasingly recognise the harm-culpability matrix places exploited children in the lower culpability categories even when harm (drug value/quantity) is high. This can lead to non-custodial sentences even for substantial drug quantities when exploitation is established.
Sentencing StatisticsIn the year ending March 2024, approximately 12,900 children were sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales – an 8% increase from the previous year and the second consecutive year-on-year increase. The majority (around 70%) continue to receive community sentences, and referral orders remain the most common disposal, followed by discharges and fines. However, a concerning trend has emerged: custodial sentences increased to 7% of all sentences (660 children), representing a 21% increase from the previous year. This marks the first year-on-year increase in custodial sentences in the last 10 years, reversing a decade-long trend of declining youth custody. While these statistics still reflect the system's commitment to community-based intervention and rehabilitation over incarceration, the reversal of the declining custody trend raises important questions. Why are more children being sentenced to custody after ten years of progress? What factors are driving this increase? And critically, are all children in custody there appropriately, or are some victims of exploitation being criminalised rather than protected? Additionally, 62% of children remanded to youth custody did not go on to receive a custodial sentence – meaning they experienced the harm and trauma of custody unnecessarily. This statistic underscores the need for better decision-making at the remand stage and more effective identification of vulnerable children who should be safeguarded rather than detained. |
Did You Know? ⮕
Until 2013, 17-year-olds were treated as adults in police custody. This meant they could be interviewed without an Appropriate Adult and did not receive the same welfare protections as younger children.
That changed after the High Court case R (HC) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWHC 982 (Admin), which found this practice breached children’s rights under the Human Rights Act 1998.
Following the judgment, PACE Code C was amended, and today anyone under 18 is treated as a child in the criminal justice system — with full rights to legal advice, family contact, and an Appropriate Adult during detention and questioning.
The Long-Term Consequences
→ Criminal Records
Convictions create criminal records that can affect children throughout their lives. However, the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act provides for convictions to become "spent" after specified periods, meaning individuals do not have to disclose them for most purposes.
For children, rehabilitation periods are shorter than for adults. Fines and Youth Rehabilitation Orders become spent six months after completion. Detention and Training Orders' spent periods depend on sentence length, ranging from 18 months to several years after completion. Some very serious sentences may never become spent.
Even when spent, convictions may still appear on enhanced DBS checks for certain sensitive roles (working with children or vulnerable adults), potentially affecting future employment.
Educational Impact
Involvement in the criminal justice system often disrupts education. Children may miss substantial schooling due to court appearances, custody, or exclusion. Reintegrating into education after custody is challenging, yet education is critical for preventing reoffending.
Youth Offending Teams and local authorities have duties to ensure children in the youth justice system continue education, but the reality is often fragmented provision and limited opportunities.
Social and Psychological ImpactArrest, prosecution, and particularly custody are traumatic experiences for children. Many already carry trauma from adverse childhood experiences, abuse, or exploitation. The criminal justice process can compound this trauma, potentially exacerbating mental health issues, reinforcing negative identities, and damaging family relationships. Conversely, well-delivered interventions can be turning points. Effective Youth Offending Team work, mental health support, educational engagement, and family therapy can help children exit criminal pathways and build positive futures. |
Exiting County Lines
Leaving county lines is extremely difficult. Children face threats, violence, and ongoing control from exploiters. They may have debts they are told they must repay. They fear retaliation against themselves or families. They may have become dependent on drugs or have no alternative income source. Multi-agency support is essential for successful exits. This includes protection from exploiters through police enforcement action, safe accommodation away from the area if necessary, trauma-informed therapy, education or training opportunities, family support and mediation where appropriate, and ongoing mentoring and practical support. The criminal justice system's involvement can sometimes catalyse this support, particularly when authorities recognise the child as a victim requiring safeguarding alongside accountability for their actions.
What Families Need to Know
→ Supporting Your Child Through the Process
If your child is arrested for county lines involvement, your support is critical. Practical steps include attending the police station as appropriate adult if asked, insisting on legal representation even if your child declines it, cooperating with Youth Offending Team and social services, being honest with professionals about your child's situation and any concerns you have, attending all court hearings, and maintaining your relationship with your child even when you feel angry or disappointed about their choices.
Remember that your child may be a victim of exploitation even if they have committed offences. Understanding this does not excuse their behaviour but it does explain it and guides how best to support them.
Accessing Support
Multiple organisations can support families including Youth Offending Teams (coordinating your child's case and providing support), Victim Support (supporting victims and families affected by crime), Just for Kids Law (legal advice and representation for young people), The Children's Society (support for exploited children), and Barnardo's (various support services including county lines specific work).
Don't navigate this alone. Professional support can help your family cope with the stress, understand the process, and access resources to help your child.
Prevention Remains the Best Protection
Understanding what happens when children are arrested for county lines offences should reinforce a critical message: prevention is always better than intervention after the fact. Early identification of grooming, robust community reporting, strong family connections, positive activities and role models, and trauma-informed support for vulnerable children all reduce the likelihood children become involved in county lines.
If you recognise warning signs in a child you know, take action. Report concerns to police, social services, or organisations like Crimestoppers. Early intervention can prevent a child entering the criminal justice system entirely.
Justice, Protection, and Hope
The legal framework governing children's involvement in county lines attempts to balance multiple imperatives: holding children accountable for harmful behaviour, protecting children who are victims of exploitation, preventing reoffending through rehabilitation, and safeguarding the public. The system is imperfect. Too many children still experience custody who might be better served by community alternatives. Recognition of exploitation is inconsistent. Support services are under-resourced. Outcomes for children leaving the system remain concerning.
Yet within this system are professionals committed to helping children, legal protections that recognise children's vulnerability and capacity for change, and pathways that, when followed faithfully, can lead children away from criminal lifestyles toward positive futures.
Understanding the legal reality helps families prepare if the worst happens, advocates challenge unfairness when they see it, and communities appreciate why prevention matters so much. Behind every statistic is a child whose life trajectory can still change.
If your child or a child you know is involved in county lines, remember: their story is not over. With the right support, protection, and intervention, children can exit exploitation, rebuild their lives, and contribute positively to their communities. The legal process is part of that journey, not the end of it.
References and Legal Framework
Primary Legislation
(Linked throughout this post)
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and Codes of Practice (particularly Code C on detention and questioning)
Crime and Disorder Act 1998
Case Law
R v L and Others [2020] EWCA Crim 1349: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2020/1349.html
R (HC) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWHC 982 (Admin): https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2013/982.html
Note: Some linked case law contains standard reporting restriction warnings. Kulturalism does not reproduce or identify any protected information. Readers should refer to official court guidance if unsure about restrictions.
Sentencing Guidelines
Government Guidance
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
Key Organisations
Kulturalism Justice Learning Hub
Legal Accuracy & Disclaimer
This article has been carefully reviewed for legal accuracy and reflects current youth justice law and procedure in England and Wales as of October 2025. It is intended for general information and community education only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not replace consultation with a qualified solicitor. Laws and procedures can change, and individual cases require professional assessment.
