Sky News Daily County lines: A decade of destroyed young lives
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Dec 3, 2025 Jason Farrell, Sky News' Home Affairs Editor, dives deep into the harrowing world of county lines and child exploitation. He shares the chilling story of Lucy, who fell victim to a drug gang as a child. Exploring how these gangs recruit and manipulate vulnerable youth, Jason discusses the staggering profits and the tragic violence associated with these operations. He warns parents about the warning signs to watch for and highlights the evolving nature of this crisis, stressing its persistence despite growing awareness.
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Tech-Driven Expansion Of Drug Markets
- County lines use mobile phone lines and apps to expand city gangs' drug markets into new towns quickly.
- Jason Farrell calls it the 'appification' or 'uberification' of drug selling driven by technology and young runners.
A Victim's Long-Term Trauma
- Jason Farrell recounts a girl who was robbed, stabbed and raped after a county lines run and later suffered psychosis and was sectioned.
- He says she remains traumatised and lives in a refuge, showing long-term damage from exploitation.
Castro Line And Modern Slavery Case
- Farrell describes the Castro Line case where police prosecuted under the Modern Slavery Act for enslaving children to sell drugs in Lincoln.
- That prosecution began after concerned parents reported children missing, highlighting parental role in detection.