County Lines Offending
Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.
AI-generated summary — not verbatim. This is a plain-English digest, not the official CPS text. It may omit detail or fall out of date. Do not rely on it for a charging decision — read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk and check the current legislation.
This guidance outlines the Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) approach to prosecuting 'county lines' offending, which involves the exploitation of vulnerable individuals in drug trafficking operations. It covers various types of county lines activities such as plugging, cuckooing, and debt bondage, as well as the relevant legislation and potential offences under drug and violence laws. The document emphasizes safeguarding and multi-agency collaboration to protect vulnerable persons while pursuing criminal proceedings.
Key points
- 'County lines' refers to gangs exporting illegal drugs using dedicated mobile phone lines.
- Vulnerable individuals, often children, are exploited as couriers in these operations.
- Prosecutors should consider a range of legislative offences reflective of the criminal conduct encountered.
- Safeguarding vulnerable persons is paramount during investigations and prosecutions.
- Multi-agency collaborations are essential for effective safeguarding and enforcement actions.
- Prosecutors must assess the role of individuals in the context of serious organized crime.
Public-interest factors
- The protection of children and vulnerable adults.
- Prevention of organized crime and associated violence.
- Disruption of drug trafficking networks.
- Public safety and community welfare.
- Justice for victims of exploitation.
- Addressing modern slavery concerns.
This is a factual digest of guidance published by the Crown Prosecution Service. Digested 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.