County Lines, Neglect and Operation Encompass

County lines is a form of criminal exploitation where urban gangs use persuasion, coercion, or force to involve children and young people in storing and transporting drugs and money to suburban, market, and coastal towns. This is illegal and constitutes child abuse, affecting children and young people across the UK (Home Office, 2018).

Criminal exploitation can take multiple forms, including child sexual exploitation, trafficking, gang involvement, and knife crime. County lines gangs are highly organised networks that use sophisticated and evolving tactics to groom young people and evade law enforcement.

These perpetrators exploit children to increase profits while distancing themselves from direct involvement in drug distribution (National Crime Agency, 2019). Young people take on most of the responsibilities and risks.

Dedicated mobile phone lines, known as “deal lines,” are central to county lines operations. These are often inexpensive, disposable, and basic phones that can be changed frequently to avoid detection. The phones allow gangs to receive orders and direct young people on where to deliver drugs, whether locally or across counties.

Common phrases that young people may use to reference county lines include:

“running a line”
“going OT/out there”
“going country”
“going cunch”

These terms often refer to going out of town to deliver drugs or money (Thurrock Council, 2020).

The NSPCC has created resources to support individuals working with children in recognizing the signs of county lines exploitation and understanding protective actions to keep young people safe. Their resources cover:

risks linked to county lines involvement
identifying and responding to county lines concerns
prevention strategies for professionals
an overview of relevant legislation and guidance

For further details, visit: NSPCC – County Lines Support.

Understanding Neglect: Recognising and Responding

Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic needs and is one of the most common forms of child abuse. It involves situations where a child may be left hungry, unclean, or without proper clothing, shelter, supervision, or medical care. This lack of care can place children and young people in unsafe situations, with potential long-term impacts on their physical and mental wellbeing.

Types of Neglect

Neglect comes in many forms, which can make it hard to recognize. Broadly, there are four main types:

Physical Neglect: When a child’s basic needs—such as food, clothing, or shelter—are unmet, or they are left unsupervised or in unsafe conditions.
Educational Neglect: When a child does not receive proper educational support or opportunities.
Emotional Neglect: When a child lacks nurturing and attention, often through being ignored, humiliated, isolated, or intimidated.
Medical Neglect: When a child is denied essential healthcare, including dental care and other medical needs or recommendations.

Signs of Neglect

Recognising neglect can be challenging. A single sign doesn’t necessarily indicate neglect, but ongoing signs may suggest a serious concern. Children who are neglected may display:

Poor hygiene and appearance
Health and developmental issues
Family and housing instability
Behavioural changes

Effects of Neglect

Neglect can have both immediate and lasting impacts on children, including:

Delays in brain development
Increased likelihood of risky behaviours, such as running away, substance abuse, or law-breaking
Difficulty forming healthy relationships, including with their own children in the future
Greater risk of mental health issues, like depression

Risk Factors

While any child can experience neglect, some are more at risk, such as:

Premature babies
Children with disabilities or complex health needs
Children in care or seeking asylum

Additionally, certain challenges faced by parents or caregivers can increase the risk of neglect, such as:

Domestic abuse
Substance abuse
Personal history of abuse
Learning disabilities
Mental health struggles
Financial hardship
Lack of support networks

If you’re concerned about a child’s wellbeing, please reach out to report it. Every action can make a difference.

Our school is proud to participate in Operation Encompass, a partnership between Lancashire Local Authority, local schools, and Lancashire Police. Operation Encompass is designed to provide early notification to schools of any domestic violence incidents that may impact a child’s well-being in school. This information is communicated to the school through a phone call after an incident occurs.

As part of the program, at least one designated staff member, known as the ‘Key Adult,’ is specially trained to work with the police and to use this information confidentially to support affected children. At Rivington Foundation Primary, our Key Adults are Mrs. Annette and Mrs. Whittaker.

If the Key Adults receive an Encompass call, they will ensure that a trusted adult is available to support the child, if needed. In most cases, this support is discreet, with the Key Adult providing a watchful presence to help the child feel secure and maintain a positive school day. The confidential information is not typically shared with other staff, but an agreement on how best to support the child is made if required.

All schools have a responsibility to share relevant information with other agencies if a child is at risk. Our Key Adults may contact other organisations as needed, in line with our child protection policy.

This collaboration with the Police allows our school to be prepared to support your child immediately, with parents assured that the Key Adult is aware of any incidents. Parents are also welcome to speak with the Key Adults, who can guide them toward additional resources and support.