New insights to county lines drug supply networks: a research note on a study of police experiences of the intersectionality of victimhood and offending

The ‘county lines’ drug supply phenomenon, often involving children and vulnerable persons, is a persistent policing problem in the UK. This paper examines the challenges associated with the intersectionality of victimhood and offending encountered in investigations. From the perspective of specialist police officers, two inter-related areas are identified and explored: 1) the presence and role of autonomy, coercion, and exploitation, and 2) the legal and procedural challenges for investigation and case management. The investigative response appears confounded by non-specific legislation derived from the Modern Slavery Act 2015, problematic implications of the statutory defence, increasing numbers and inconsistencies in National Referral Mechanism (NRM) referrals and outcomes, safeguarding deficiencies, incomplete statutory guardianship coverage, and limited understanding of and screening for neuro-developmental and neurodiverse conditions among those involved. The findings and conclusions will be of interest to those in the areas of law and public policy, and professional practice.