Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help ensure young people are not being exploited across County Lines.

The Government is committed to the prevention of county lines exploitation and to supporting children, young people and the most vulnerable in our society who are affected by it. On 20 January this year, we announced £40m of dedicated investment for 2021/22 to tackle drugs supply and county lines, doubling our investment from the previous year.

Since it was launched, in November 2019, our county lines programme has resulted in 1,500 line closures, 7,400 arrests and more than 4,000 vulnerable people safeguarded as part of police and law enforcement action to bring those responsible to justice and protect the vulnerable.

In addition, we also provide £1m of specialist support to under 25s from London, the West Midlands and Merseyside who are criminally exploited through county lines, to help them safely reduce and exit their involvement. This includes a rescue service to support the safe return home of these vulnerable young people who are identified outside their home areas in connection with county lines.

We are also continuing to fund Missing People’s SafeCall service.  This national service provides specialist advice and support to young people and a range of support options to their parents/carers who are affected by county lines exploitation.